ReeferBill
New member
Are their any small butterflies that I could put in a 46 gallon bow reef? ....Without having to trade it in.....
butterflies in reefs
- Thread starter LemonLemon
- Start date
I got a French Angel and a 4-eye butterfly for Christmas. The first saltwater fish I ever saw in a fish store was a 4-eyed butterfly, maybe 38 years ago or so. I remember not being able to take my eyes off it, it was so delicately colored and so cool to watch move around. I have had a salt water tank of some sort for 38 years, yet have never had one of these, even though they are common and inexpensive, mostly because butterflies are always on the difficult side relative to feeding and also disease. But I finally decided to get one. I now remember what captivated me all those years ago, it is a really subtly beautiful fish. Here is a terrible picture:
LemonLemon
New member
did anyone get the little baby nippon butterfly on liveaquaria?
they're rare outside of the japanese market and i don't think there's much information regarding reefsafeness.
but they do not seem like coral eaters but rather, part time planktivores and perhaps some sessile invertebrate eaters. much like guentheri and the rest.
it was only 2 inch and a real baby!
here;s the one on ladd and one juvenile in the wild
they're rare outside of the japanese market and i don't think there's much information regarding reefsafeness.
but they do not seem like coral eaters but rather, part time planktivores and perhaps some sessile invertebrate eaters. much like guentheri and the rest.
it was only 2 inch and a real baby!
here;s the one on ladd and one juvenile in the wild
LemonLemon
New member
sorry double post!
I'm surprised you were concerned about getting a "sensitive" butterfly considering you have a MI
Actually, the MI is a whole lot less picky about food than butterflies I have owned. It has been a pretty bulletproof fish for me so far, and I've had it for almost 3 years now. But having the MI this long has given me encouragement to try to keep some fish I haven't tried in many years. In my earlier days, (I have been doing this hobby for 37 years now) I couldn't keep a butterfly alive, so I quit trying. But back then I had undergravel filters, and limited selection of foods to try. Things have changed a lot since then.
Paul - I sometimes think that having one isn't a bad idea, even with the system I have now. It would keep my sand a whole lot cleaner, thats for sure.
But live-rock, skimmers, refugiums, RO/DI etc have made my water quality far superior to what I had 30 years ago.
I'd also be curious about the blackburnii... they've sold a couple now.
aquaph8
Love The Fish
I was thinking the same thing. I really like the blackburnii, cool looking fish
LukFox
Active member
And now that I don't have to make room for the clowns I was able to snag that Coradion on DD.
He arrived today, as big as my dusky, but I won't be able to see him in person until the 14th. Can't wait!
Rogger Castells
New member
I am so happy I've found this thread, I have been keeping butterflies and Angels in my tank for years and it has always been controversial among the people that see my tank, I also keep a few more species of fish that have been labeled "not reef safe"
Although I am conscious that there are a few species that are coral eaters, i thin k in the most part some species have been mislabeled because they have been spotted eating corals but IMO most of the instances they are eating loose coral dead tissue! I have seen corals that have been ignored all of the sudden get sick and my BF go down town on them, in some cases I have seen the corals come back, which makes me think that these behavior could actually be beneficial to the a coral that otherwise may have completely RTN due to what ever infection.
I have also witness my large angels bite of young single tips of my across and a few weeks later the acros react by multi branching new shoots from what use to be a single branch.
I keep a few BF in my reef and I believe they have a positive place in the ecosystem of my tank.
I will post pictures later.
Although I am conscious that there are a few species that are coral eaters, i thin k in the most part some species have been mislabeled because they have been spotted eating corals but IMO most of the instances they are eating loose coral dead tissue! I have seen corals that have been ignored all of the sudden get sick and my BF go down town on them, in some cases I have seen the corals come back, which makes me think that these behavior could actually be beneficial to the a coral that otherwise may have completely RTN due to what ever infection.
I have also witness my large angels bite of young single tips of my across and a few weeks later the acros react by multi branching new shoots from what use to be a single branch.
I keep a few BF in my reef and I believe they have a positive place in the ecosystem of my tank.
I will post pictures later.
And now that I don't have to make room for the clowns I was able to snag that Coradion on DD.
Oh congrats!!! That thing is a LOOKER for sure! Glad someone here got it, so we can hear about updates!
LukFox
Active member
I hope there will be many! It makes me nervous not being there, but I have the pet sitter sending me videos so I can check its behavior in case something is up. So far it is acting and looks all right.
jjk_reef00
New member
And now that I don't have to make room for the clowns I was able to snag that Coradion on DD.
My favorite BF, I had one come in that was a large specimine and would only eat scallops. The colors are amazing on this fish. Please keep us updated.
lionfish300
New member
Thanks for the imfor. samhon
lionfish300
New member
Whatever work right Paul B?
Dr Colliebreath
New member
Will butterflies that eat some corals also go after anemones also? I was thinking of trying a small one in a tank with butterflies that proved to like the taste of soft corals (esp. GSP) but there is no use trying it if butterflies go after them as well. What do you think?
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