Butterfly fish with zoas

[Reef Happy]

I have been reading about butterfly fish and zoas. From what I read the butterfly fish will eat red bugs and I have some on my sps, but also read that they will pick on the Lps and zoaz and I have some of both. I don't know of anyone personally that have this fish in their sps - zoas tank and was wondering if anyone out there has successfully had this mix before and it work. I know one would be taking a chance maybe a 50/50 change that they may have a problem. I have some nice zoas I don't want messed with.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

D.G., I wouldn't do it if I were you. Even a rumor of a fish eating zoas is all I need to know. The price of zoanthids has gone sky high in the last year or so and all you will be doing is feeding them hard earned money. Butterflys are not safe with zoas and it has been documented as such. Tangs were all once known to be safe with zoanthids, to date, there is a list floating around of Tangs who will, and have been seen eating zoanthids. It happened to me a few years ago with my Blue Hippo Tang. I caught him eating my blood red zoas. If you choose to do so, I think you are only asking for some major dissapointment in a matter of days. Just my unprofessional opinion.

Mucho Reef

 

[raider77]

Definitely not here to disagree with Mucho but I have one in my 90 now. I have a copperbanded butterfly and it has never pick at my corals. This is just my experience with my butterfly. The thing about butterflies is they're picky eaters but they can be coaxed into eating frozen mysis.

 

[raider77]

Forgot ot mention that my yellow tang picks at my zoas.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

It's ok if we disagree, LOL, I hope I am wrong and your butterfly never touches them. I personally would never do it and I pray that he never touches your zoas. I remember the story of the reefer who had a big fight with me off line about emerald crabs. He accused me of causing a scare by my saying that emerald crabs should never be trusted in a tank full of rare and pricey zoas. I mean he called me some dirty names. He said he had been keeping dozens of emeralds in his big display tank in his store for years with his rare collection of zoas and palys. I told him it may be fine today, tomorrow next week, or even next year, but one day it will happen. He emailed me about a year later after opening his store on a Monday morning, only to find that his emerald crabs had decimated nearly 1/3 of his zoas. He saw them with his own eyes eating away. He ask me to forgive him for the things he had said to me. He was just devastated.

I truly hope that you have a butterfly that hates zoas, all the best to you my friend.


Mucho Reef

 

[RichK]

I have had a copperband for the last 5 years, and although I trust it in my SPS tank, I would not move it to my 75G LPS/softie tank (which is littered with aiptasias at the moment). I am almost sure it would graze on zoas once the aiptasia are gone. I am unsure if the copperband eats red bugs as I don't think I have them. IMO, if there is even a CHANCE of a fish eating something I want to keep, I won't add it.

This being said, people who know me are aware of my plague of xenia. I tried for years to find a fish that would eat them, with no luck. About a year ago, I bought a Regal angel after a LONG TIME of wanting one. I was a bit concerned for my gonis ( which I have had for about 14 years), but the Regal was just fine. It did however mow every last bit of xenia down. I was estatic! Just think twice, or even 3 times, before you add the butterfly.

 

[msman825]

I have one in my zoo/paly tank, BUT it was a baby when i first got it 3 1/2 years ago 1 1/2 long little bitty guy all it every seen was zoos after i got it so i think that made a diffrence with mine, He will swim a mile for a chuck of aiptasia though. pulls it out roots and all. I dont have any but freinds loans me rocks covered in it for him 2-3 days its clean send there rock back clean here's mine

 

[Reef Happy]

So what I am hearing here on this thread is that it is just a chance you take and depends on the size of copperband you put in your sps zoa tank as to whether you will have a problem or not. I do also have some of the aiptasia and this was a reason I was wondering if keeping the copperband would maintain them to a minimum and leave my zoas alone.
I appreciate all the responses and opinions.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

...and there you have it D.G., I just hope and pray that everything turns out ok for you.

Mucho