The marginalis is tiny. But the mitratus has been there a while, how would one pair it?
Angel and Butterfly "Reef"
- Thread starter snorvich
- Start date
The marginalis is tiny. But the mitratus has been there a while, how would one pair it?
cwoods8
New member
Those look great but for some reason i'm a declivis maniac and they got the coolest little personalities....but i'm sure C.Tinkeri is not far different than its close cousin.
LemonLemon
New member
i have a butterfly and angel reef set up.
my butterfly choices are as follows.
- C. marginalis
- F. flavissimus
- P. marcellae
- yellow pyramid
- C. paucifasciatus
- C. declivis
- C. semeion
my butterfly choices are as follows.
- C. marginalis
- F. flavissimus
- P. marcellae
- yellow pyramid
- C. paucifasciatus
- C. declivis
- C. semeion
My pakistani (one of the smallest fish in my tank) butterfly showed aggression to my larger heniochus.. sort of a defensive posture where he sticks his dorsal spines into the intruding fish whenever the heniochus would spot the pakistani foraging for food on the bottom and would follow.
However, ever since i got a magnetic seaweed clip, it now would chase away my melanurus wrasse and my foxface (my largest fish, with at least 4" size difference) mouth first if those two fish try to take a bite while the butterfly is nearby (which is until the seaweed is all gone) which is surprising. no real damage of course.
However, ever since i got a magnetic seaweed clip, it now would chase away my melanurus wrasse and my foxface (my largest fish, with at least 4" size difference) mouth first if those two fish try to take a bite while the butterfly is nearby (which is until the seaweed is all gone) which is surprising. no real damage of course.
Chaetodon semilarvatus the Golden Butterflys are pretty safe and just beautiful especially if you have more than one. I also have a saddleback and mostly picks on mushrooms. It has gone after my sabae anemone at times but it is protected by a maroon clown. If you have enough SPS that are well grown you might want to consider some of the collarvite butterflys as they are truly the most beautiful of all. They are generally small fish so there wouldn't be a lot of damage to the corals and would help keep them in check.
jjk_reef00
New member
Which one is the collarvite? I can't find a link anyplace?
I really like the Chaetodon semilarvatus although I've never had one (maybe some day).
Sounds like a really cool tank your putting together, can't wait to see how you decide to stock.
I really like the Chaetodon semilarvatus although I've never had one (maybe some day).
Sounds like a really cool tank your putting together, can't wait to see how you decide to stock.
Big E
Premium Member
Yeah, the info on most of these BF's are sketchy at best. There's a a handful that really go for softies. I believe raffelsi, & melannotus are two of them.
We need more people keeping them for accurate info on each species.
On compatibility, my semis & collare coexisted fine in a 180g. Try to avoid like colors or patterns. For example an auriga & vagabund or a decussatus is risky.
Big E
Premium Member
Im not familiar with C. marginalis but if they are anything like regular copperbands or Muellers.........they aren't as fast or aggressive eaters as the other BF's you have in your list, not to mention the wrasses & anthias. You might have do some spot feeding for that little guy.
Actually, he (she?) holds his own. He looks very similar to an Australian copperband but gets his food with no problem. His biggest problem is he is small so it takes him a time or two to get larger food in, but he does so.
Yes, this fish is now on my list. I love its look and everyone says it is peaceful but not a wimp.
So, at this point, with three "openings" in my plan, I have C. collare as one. I am considering a pair from the Tinker Complex or two individuals, possibly Forcipiger flavissimus and Chaetodon ephippium but based on a comment above from "a C. declivis maniac", a C. declivis. Everyone has been exceptionally helpful as the literature is not loaded with butterfly fish experiences. For me, this this is the value of Reef Central, getting opinions in areas my experience is deficient. So, keep it coming!!
Yup, my melannotus is the WORST of any of mine. It was confirmed when they showed a group of them on some underwater show ripping into a sinularia in the wild :lol:
LemonLemon
New member
oh you've not seen mine...
it's the greediest fish i've ever kept period. eats anything and ad top speed. and by anything i mean glass cleaners, my hand, new fish, small fish etc.
it's peaceful but will not hesitate to chase and snatch it's favourite food from other fishes.
LemonLemon
New member
melannotus and ocelicaudalis are two of the WORST butterflies for the reef. they are soft coral specialist and the noxiousness of leathers, sinularia and other softies do not effect them. in fact, they go nuts for it.
the other one is the tear drop. C. unimaculatus. both species. look at their jaws and you will soon realise that they are one of the most destructive of all the species.
the other one is the tear drop. C. unimaculatus. both species. look at their jaws and you will soon realise that they are one of the most destructive of all the species.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
A little off topic, Steve, but if you're setting up a "whatever they won't eat" tank, you might want to include a pair of OSFF from DD. 
A little off topic, Steve, but if you're setting up a "whatever they won't eat" tank, you might want to include a pair of OSFF from DD.
I LOVE those fish but am worried about them feeding.
Big E
Premium Member
Great to hear on two accounts they are greedy fast feeders. My Muellers gets all exited & eats like a champ, but by the time he reacts the other fish beat him to the food. He's been trained to be hand fed or I just drop food directly in front of him so he gets it first.
