They've had them quite often recently. I just added mine to my FOWLR finally. You are right, just a stunning fish with that tall profile!
butterflies in reefs
- Thread starter LemonLemon
- Start date
They've had them quite often recently. I just added mine to my FOWLR finally. You are right, just a stunning fish with that tall profile!
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
This might be helpful to people wanting to keep butterflies in reefs. I have a handout from a graduate marine biology class which puts the genera of butterflies into feeding groups based on gut analysis. This information is presented in a phylogenetic tree. I will list it in order. This means that as you go down the list, you are essentially tracing the development of corallivory in butterflyfishes. I tried to scan the figure but my scanner is not working, I will troubleshoot and try again later.
Noncoralline invertebrate feeders and planktivores:
Amphichaetodon
Chelmonops
Chelmon
Coradion
Forcipiger
Johnrandallia
Heniochus
Hemitaurichthys
Facultative corallivores (15-70% corals):
Roa
Prognathodes
Chaetodon
Rabdophorus
Roaops
Exornator
Lepidochaetodon
Exclusive corallivores:
Parachaetodon
Megaprotodon
Gonochaetodon
Tetrachaetodon
Discochaetodon
Corallochaetodon
Citharoedus
Obviously the fact that Chaetodon is listed in facultative is nothing new and is not helpful for must common butterflies in the trade. But it is interesting to note all the genera in the group which naturally DO NOT FEED ON CORAL.
Noncoralline invertebrate feeders and planktivores:
Amphichaetodon
Chelmonops
Chelmon
Coradion
Forcipiger
Johnrandallia
Heniochus
Hemitaurichthys
Facultative corallivores (15-70% corals):
Roa
Prognathodes
Chaetodon
Rabdophorus
Roaops
Exornator
Lepidochaetodon
Exclusive corallivores:
Parachaetodon
Megaprotodon
Gonochaetodon
Tetrachaetodon
Discochaetodon
Corallochaetodon
Citharoedus
Obviously the fact that Chaetodon is listed in facultative is nothing new and is not helpful for must common butterflies in the trade. But it is interesting to note all the genera in the group which naturally DO NOT FEED ON CORAL.
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Yes, it is in the facultative list, but it is early on the list meaning it is much closer to the 15% end of the spectrum than the 70% end. I was more surprised about Roaops.
EDIT: I guess I should add a disclaimer with that list... and that would be that fish act differently in aquaria than they do in the wild. Some fish which naturally do not eat coral might pick on coral in aquaria because they are not getting enough plankton or other invertebrate foods. Additionally, facultative coral feeders might not eat coral if provided with enough alternatives.
EDIT: I guess I should add a disclaimer with that list... and that would be that fish act differently in aquaria than they do in the wild. Some fish which naturally do not eat coral might pick on coral in aquaria because they are not getting enough plankton or other invertebrate foods. Additionally, facultative coral feeders might not eat coral if provided with enough alternatives.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
IME they can co-exist but larger aquariums (greater than 100 gallons) would be recommended since they are competitors.
Chaetodonts "fight" by bumping and/or ramming one another.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I would think (and I hope others could corroborate) that Chelmon, Forcipiger and most other so called 'beaked coralfish' would get along with other 'non beaked' Chaetodonts.
For example: my Klein's won't blink twice at the CBB or YLN.
Issues might arise when beaked types are kept together, however.
For example: my Klein's won't blink twice at the CBB or YLN.
Issues might arise when beaked types are kept together, however.
jd474
New member
IME, I would agree, Gary.
jonnybravo22
New member
few pics of my mitratus. does well in a reef. did not do well w/ another chaetodon (burgessi) which bullied it. the mitratus has been a model citizen however.
Wow Jonny! Amaxing fish. I want to had a Mitratus in my reef, but I already have a baby Tinkeri. Don't know if I'll take this chance. Any advice for me ?few pics of my mitratus. does well in a reef. did not do well w/ another chaetodon (burgessi) which bullied it. the mitratus has been a model citizen however.
Thanks
David
aandfsoccr04
Active member
I really loved reading this thread for the past 45 minutes. It's great to learn this information about butterfly fish in the reef. I appreciate all of you taking the time to educate less experienced reefers.
Kataro
New member
I got addicted to butterfly fish so I went out and got these 2 beauty
They're doing well in my SPS dominate reef, the Declivis hasnt bother a single coral or anything. Very well behaved.
The Saddleback seem a bit shy however. I dont see him going for the food like the Declivis, and I think he might be nipping at some of my SPS. But no major damage I've seen
Chaetodon Declivis
Chaetodon ephippium
They're doing well in my SPS dominate reef, the Declivis hasnt bother a single coral or anything. Very well behaved.
The Saddleback seem a bit shy however. I dont see him going for the food like the Declivis, and I think he might be nipping at some of my SPS. But no major damage I've seen
Chaetodon Declivis
Chaetodon ephippium
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