butterflies in reefs

[salty321]

My LNB and CBB both seem to be eating. I tried some frozen brine shrimp and squid (I think it's squid) from an old multi-pack. They sucked in the food, seems to spit it out, but then suck it in again... I guess you can call that eating. lol

Both are very skittish when I place my hand in the tank though. I need to glue some corals. That could be fun.

Once they settle in I'm sure they'll be fine. My CBB is one of the boldest fish in the tank, the long nosed not quite so but definitely not shy or skittish and they love their grub which is primarily mysis and enriched brine.


stuifbol, no I've never noticed any aggression towards the other fish by the Xantocephalus, she's a pretty chilled out fish.

Chris

 

[stuifbol]

2 new in QT(Guttatissimus and Rafflesi):dance:
I put the other four butterflies from QT to the display tank... Adiergastos/Selene/Xanthurus and Quadrimaculatus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb19_kkmrbY&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3AF6dJwpLPY

 

[SDguy]

They look great! How's the Adlergastos doing?

 

[stuifbol]

Very good Peter,he's small but one of the boulder butterflies I must say... even eats flakes:dance:
grtz Joeri

They look great! How's the Adlergastos doing?

 

[SDguy]

That's really great to hear, I may have to try one in the new tank. I always thought they were difficult.

 

[angelfish7]

wow...love all thise butterflies!! would love to add those to my angel dominated tank! btw ..hows that Coral beauty doing and how long have you had them? Is he a finicky eater? would love to get one but not many people have little succes with them.

 

[inktomi]

If you're referring to a Coral Beauty Pygmy Angelfish, then I would dispute them being finkey eaters. I've had mine for years (it's the oldest fish in my tank), and it's always been a perfect fish - except for some agression issues.

 

[stuifbol]

I think you mean the Holocanthus Tricolor?
He's also doing great and eats everything,I have him about 8 months I suppose...bought him when he was about 3 to 4 cm and by now he's about 7 to 8cm and starting to develop the colored lips:eek2::eek2:
I think you must buy them very small and feed them well (multiple times a day a varied diet),got the same fish in another tank(at my work) and is also doing great but he is still smaller.

wow...love all thise butterflies!! would love to add those to my angel dominated tank! btw ..hows that Coral beauty doing and how long have you had them? Is he a finicky eater? would love to get one but not many people have little succes with them.

 

[stuifbol]

Once it's eating it's no problem and easy....but there are a lot that won't eat and just waste away.....I think there were about 20 Adiergastos at the wholesaler and my LFS picked this one out that was showing intrest in food... the others where all dead a week later I heared,the other problem is that most of them allready lost a lot of weight once they arrive at the wholesalers.
grtz J

That's really great to hear, I may have to try one in the new tank. I always thought they were difficult.

 

[angelfish7]

I think you mean the Holocanthus Tricolor?
He's also doing great and eats everything,I have him about 8 months I suppose...bought him when he was about 3 to 4 cm and by now he's about 7 to 8cm and starting to develop the colored lips:eek2::eek2:
I think you must buy them very small and feed them well (multiple times a day a varied diet),got the same fish in another tank(at my work) and is also doing great but he is still smaller.

That's correct, I meant the rock beauty/ holocanthus tri color.
How about the Moorish idol. How long have you had him? He looks very big in the video.

 

[stuifbol]

M.I.? Must be about 10months now,grown twice the size since I bought him.
He measures about 15cm by now:bounce3: fast grower I think.

That's correct, I meant the rock beauty/ holocanthus tri color.
How about the Moorish idol. How long have you had him? He looks very big in the video.

 

[Big E]

Very good Peter,he's small but one of the boulder butterflies I must say... even eats flakes:dance:
grtz Joeri

That's great to hear......from what I read from some older texts they aren't hard to keep but for some reason they seem to show up rarely.

The few I have seen show up in those mixed Indo butterly batches at low quality stores & they are so beat up & diseased I've passed each time.

 

[SDguy]

the others where all dead a week later I heared,the other problem is that most of them allready lost a lot of weight once they arrive at the wholesalers.
grtz J

Sounds more like the few I've seen. Shame really.

I should update... I don't have a picture yet, but I have a beautiful pellet eating lineolatus ready for the 240g! I'm excited to see how big it gets in there :eek1:

 

[stuifbol]

@Ed:indeed you need a good LFS who picks the best out en get's them eating
@Peter: Lineolatus is beautiful but gets big:mixed: and also agressive towards other butterflies I suppose...

That's great to hear......from what I read from some older texts they aren't hard to keep but for some reason they seem to show up rarely.

The few I have seen show up in those mixed Indo butterly batches at low quality stores & they are so beat up & diseased I've passed each time.

 

[SDguy]

I think a 8 foot long tank will suffice I haven't read anything about aggression, though there is little info in general on this species. Time will tell.

 

[Woodchuck12]

I do like butterflies especially the red sea etrian butterflyfish. But they are also not reef safe according to LA. Still this thread makes me think different but I thought I'd ask incase. Do you think it would work? This seems like the place to ask if any.

 

[pstank1]

I've got 30x18x20 sps tank with a crocea I've had for 3+ years. I currently have a firefish and Priolepis nocturnus. I was getting ready to add 6 Elacatinus multifasciatum and possibly a red mandarin, but I just finished reading this thread.

I didn't think any butterflies would stay small enough for my tank, but what are you thoughts on adding Prognathodes aculeatus? I'd still like to add the 6 Elacatinus multifasciatum, but I'd drop the mandarin and move the firefish if they would keep me from adding the Prognathodes aculeatus. I like the idea of a big fish cruising around the reef with a bunch of small fish scooting around.

 

[Woodchuck12]

Yeah, I spelled it wrong. I meant eritrean butterflyfish

 

[stuifbol]

I think he will mostly pick your corals to dead.
Maybe If your tank is big enough you have a chance....????

Yeah, I spelled it wrong. I meant eritrean butterflyfish

 

[tylersarah]

Muelleri Butterflyfish

Muelleri Butterflyfish

Today Ziggy, our Muelleri Butterflyfish finished his month in qt and was added to the display tank. He's a large, fat Diver's Den fish and I did not encounter any problems with him as far as parasites or appetite issues throughout the process. Like most bff he prefers blackworms and fresh raw seafood.

He is most definitely the king of the 120 gal universe.