Butterfly Fish, Point me in the right direction.

[Amoore311]

I've just started my research here, and would like to narrow down my list first to make better use of my time.


I will be looking for a butterfly that likes to eat aiptasia and is otherwise "reef safeish". I know this is completely hit-or-miss, but I would like to see some experiences or suggestions here on specific species so I can research a bit more. I've tried every means of manual removal and am getting tired of fighting the battle tbh.

The tank is a 6 x 2' x 2'' 180 Gallon Oceanic with SPS/LPS/softies. LPS mainly consists of brain corals and euphyllia. I have 1 small acan frag, that can go if needed (I know those tend to be rather tasty to butterflies".

Softies are zoas and hairy mushrooms.

SPS consists of mostly acros, some poccilopora, and encrusting monti's.


When/if the butterfly goes into the tank, he will have to co-exist with the following:

-Yellow Tang
-Bluejaw Trigger
-Mated pair of clowns
-Yellow Watchman Goby
-10 Lyretail anthias
-Mandarin

I do have a Powder Blue Tang right now, but he will be going to a home with a larger tank prior to me adding the butterfly.

I know a Copperband is a decent choice, other than that though.... I'm kind of at a loss.

Any help here would be appreciated. Price wise I'd be willing to spend upwards $300ish if a more rare species of butterfly fit the bill. It doesn't have to be anything special though.

 

[snorvich]

I don't know any fish that eats aiptasia and that is otherwise reef safe. I have various butterfly fish and the most reef safe is C. marginalis and who still will eat aiptasia. He does like clams however.

 

[tcmfish]

Some people have tried and had success with:

C. falcula
C. klein

I wonder how a yellow long nose butterflyfish would do? I think they are usually reef safe. Scott Michael just featured them in an article in one of the fish magazines.

The copperband is probably your best bet if you have a healthy one though.

Also, expect a rude welcoming from your yellow tang to any butterflyfish...

 

[Amoore311]

Also, expect a rude welcoming from your yellow tang to any butterflyfish...

I tried a Copperband in the tank once already, with the powder blue in there. Social Acclimation was impossible lol. I tried the critter keeper technique, which has worked fine in the past. Not this time though.


I was hoping that once I removed the Powder Blue the Yellow wouldn't be as quick to attack. As it stands now, my Yellow tang is allowed a 2'x2'x2/ section of the tank for 70% of the day lol, the Powder Blue controls the rest.

I will definitely be trying a butterfly after the Powder Blue goes. More than likely one of the few suggested above. I'll take my time with social acclimation and see if I can work up some form of peaceful co-existance lol.


Clams I'm not worried about tbh. I never have luck with them, despite being able to keep just about any SPS coral available successfully.

 

[keith sprague]

ive had great succes with my copperband,cleared my aptasia no prob and dosnt bother my SPS.only problem now aptasia is gone and i want to keep him fat & healthy. he eats frozen brine and mysis but i dont think it is nutritional enough.if you live close id pimp him out to ya..

 

[iceh]

Some people have tried and had success with:

C. falcula
C. klein

I wonder how a yellow long nose butterflyfish would do? I think they are usually reef safe. Scott Michael just featured them in an article in one of the fish magazines.

The copperband is probably your best bet if you have a healthy one though.

Also, expect a rude welcoming from your yellow tang to any butterflyfish...

I'm very interested in a C. klein. How is your experience with it? In the middle of an upgrade to a 120 4'x2'x2', and it will be mostly sps with some scattered lps (brain, euphyllia, maybe an acan) and a couple clams.
Any pics of a mature specimen would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[suta4242]

I can only comment on whats popular this side of the pond.
IME a Kleins is usually an aiptasia muncher, but a copperband maybe, maybe not. Kleins is a lot tougher, too, but is also pretty likely to munch other corals after hes cleared out the aiptasia.

The longnose, F. flavissimus, I've kept has never tried aptasia and I've not known any locals who have succeeded with them for this purpose.

good luck!

 

[Big E]

My Muelleri Copperband ate all my aips years ago & has never touched or even sampled any corals. He's with acros, montis, acans, zoos, euphyllias, fiji leather, pagoda, ricordias & an anenome.

He did eat all the fan worms off the rock. Not sure how ccoco worms or other decorative worms would fare, but I'm guessing not very well.

 

[jimroth]

My CBB loves aiptasia but won't eat them over a certain size, and can't get them from between rocks. My majestic angel also loves aiptasia! My YLN never touched one aiptasia.
Neither butterfly eats my coral, although the angel has a nip ocassionaly.

 

[tcmfish]

That is good to know that the YLN doesn't touch 'em.

Also as for the Klein's, I know Gary M has one and bradleyj has tried a few before success.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

 

[aquaph8]

My Muelleri Copperband ate all my aips years ago & has never touched or even sampled any corals. He's with acros, montis, acans, zoos, euphyllias, fiji leather, pagoda, ricordias & an anenome.

He did eat all the fan worms off the rock. Not sure how ccoco worms or other decorative worms would fare, but I'm guessing not very well.

Good luck finding a Muelleri.

 

[small alien]

How about a matted file?

 

[Amoore311]

I tried the file myself. Completely ravage a brain coral of mine, and never even touched any aiptasia.

I figured with the butterfly I will at least have a decent looking fish in the display if everything works out. Those files are ugly as sin lol.

 

[small alien]

"ugly" fish are the coolest.

 

[Amoore311]

"ugly" fish are the coolest.

I was in agreement until I got that Matted Filefish lol.

 

[small alien]

Har har.

 

[Western_reefer]

Good luck finding a Muelleri.

Why? Are they very very rare?

 

[aquaph8]

I dont know if theyre rare but I never see em for sale.