Butterfly Fish that are Safe with Soft Corals

[WLachnit]

I am looking for people's experience with butterfly fish that are safe with soft corals. I have read through Scott Michael's book which doesn't have a lot of specifics and wanted to get people's first hand experience. My list of soft corals are zoas, mushrooms, GSP, toadstools, gorgonians.

 

[Kremis]

i have 2 pyramids with my mushrooms and zoanthids. they did however eat xenia as soon as it went into the tank. They were good with my toadstool too.

 

[scooter31707]

Pyramids, Golden butterfly, and Cooperband (50/50).

 

[MMacro]

Pyramid, Zoster, Heniochus diphreutes, and Chelmon marginalis are generally considered reef safe.
Here is one of many good articles to read up on.

 

[hogfanreefer]

My copperband is safe with zoas, GSP. It's also safe with acans, duncans, euphyllia. You wouldn't want to be a feather duster in my tank though.

 

[maxxII]

I had a Atlantic Long Nose Butterflyfish for many years. Was good with Zoas, SPS, fleshy LPS and everything else on your list....never tried gorgonians with it though. However, it was murderous to feather dusters in my tank.

 

[jd371]

I've had a CBB in my tank for a month now and all the coral are doing fine. Can't say the same about the Aptasia.

 

[saf1]

Pyramid, Zoster, Heniochus diphreutes, and Chelmon marginalis are generally considered reef safe.
Here is one of many good articles to read up on.

Thank you for the article link. Appreciate it.

 

[maxxII]

A 40 breeder is too small for a Pyramid or Zoster butterfly.

 

[saf1]

A 40 breeder is too small for a Pyramid or Zoster butterfly.

What made you say that and was that directed at me?

I just said thank you for the link. I have zero room to add anything in my 40 and there are a total of 6 fish in there. Mated clowns, mated azure damsels, and a pair of pajama cardinals. Rest of the tank is occupied by 6 rather large rose bubble tips and 4 very large hammer corals.

I just wanted to say thanks for the link since it was a good read. Also note that I'm in the process of setting up a 240.

 

[maxxII]

My apologies...I mistook you for the thread starter. My concern was that someone new to butterflies was looking to put a Pyramid or a Zoster in 40 breeder, which would be too small.

This is what I get for posting before drinking coffee and waking up in the morning.

I've seen your posts over the years and you know what you're doing.

I got my wires crossed and did not intend to be insulting.

Again, my apologies.

 

[saf1]

My apologies...I mistook you for the thread starter. My concern was that someone new to butterflies was looking to put a Pyramid or a Zoster in 40 breeder, which would be too small.

This is what I get for posting before drinking coffee and waking up in the morning.

I've seen your posts over the years and you know what you're doing.

I got my wires crossed and did not intend to be insulting.

Again, my apologies.

No need to apologize. I wasn't sure if I said anything since I was also under my first cup of Joe The larger tank is still in a shipping crate though and I've had it since Dec 28th. Sump is on the work bench, skimmer under it. Just need to get organized and work. So no - not sure if I know what I'm doing

The thread caught my eye since I do mostly have a soft coral tank with the hammers and anemones mixed in. I've always wanted to try and keep a few butterflies that I've seen while diving in Hawaii. Anyway didn't mean to hijack the thread but did want to give thanks for that link

Have a good day.

 

[ReefTeacher]

I have a yellow head, pearlscale, Pakistani, and a pyramid in my 180. They are good with xenia, organpipe, GSP and my gorgonian. they do pick at my colt and my anthelia. They also all take pellets, except for the Pakistani.

I have kept butterflies with corals for over 10 years. Each fish is an individual and can even change. I had an Auriga that after one years suddenly decided GSP were delicious. At that point you just decide if it isn't a feeder coral.

 

[WLachnit]

Pyramid, Zoster, Heniochus diphreutes, and Chelmon marginalis are generally considered reef safe.
Here is one of many good articles to read up on.

The article link was helpful. Thanks. Not quite 100% alignment with my text, but I wouldn't expect it to be. So, it's good to see ot.her references.

 

[WLachnit]

Thanks for all the feedback. As with a lot of things in this hobby, there is a lot of specimen variability. So, since most of my softies, which are in one of my growout tanks, aren't expensive, I am happy to try things out as I put my softie tank together.