Butterflyfish Experience

[jer77]

Does anyone have any experience keeping butterflyfish??

Specifically, of the Chaetodon genus:
Black Back(Chaetodon melannotus),
Four Eyed(Chaetodon capistratus),
Pakistan(Chaetodon collare),
Latticed(Chaetodon rafflesi),
Falcula(Chaetodon falcula),
Red Sea Semilarvatus(Chaetodon semilarvatus),
or Double Saddle(Chaetodon ulietensis)

Have you kept them in a fish only, FOWLR or reef setup?? What corals if kept in a reef?

What other fish were kept with them? Any other butterfly's or similar shape/behavior fish??

I have kept a golden red sea, falcula and one similar to a vagabond safely for many years in a reef w/ mostly soft corals excluding types like xenia, unhosted anemones and meaty/fleshy type polyps/lps. Some like the semilarvatus was shy and hard to feed at first, but came around eventually. I'd just like to know the behaviors of any of the butterflyfish listed above.

 

[vaporized]

Personally, I have only kept Chelmon rostratus (copperband). Doesn't touch coral in my tank. I have trachyphyllia, acans, montis, acros, zoas, gorgonians, mushrooms, bubbletips and carpet anemones and much more. This fish eats flakes, pellets, brine, mysis, squid, spirulina, nori, etc. It's like a pig and looks amazing racing through the tank. It is kept with a flame angel, powder blue tang, niger trigger, yellow tang, blonde naso tang, pair of snowflake clowns, fridmani psuedochromis, and maroon clown. None of the fish fight and they are all in a 210 gallon.

 

[stuifbol]

Read the thread butterflies in reefs....there's A LOT of info there:eek2:

 

[Lostinthedark]

I have 3 pyramid butterflies in a mixed reef. From what I understand these are supposed to be the only true reef safe butterflies out there. So far no problems after 3 months. I would like a copper and someday if a find a nice one.

 

[suta4242]

I have kept a golden red sea, falcula and one similar to a vagabond safely for many years in a reef w/ mostly soft corals excluding types like xenia, unhosted anemones and meaty/fleshy type polyps/lps. Some like the semilarvatus was shy and hard to feed at first, but came around eventually. I'd just like to know the behaviors of any of the butterflyfish listed above.

Sorry, can't help with your original question..... but do you mind sharing which corals were safe with the semilarvatus? I know they're facultative hard coral eaters but I thought they'd at least pick on pretty much anything available over a period of time. Is this not the case? Also how mature are the fish?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

The ulietensis will eat coral (mine went after them immediately upon being introduced to the tank and kept after any that were subsequently introduced). My falcula, saddled and cbb have shown no interest in coral, although I have only a limited number of coral in the tank.

 

[xmen0075]

Personally, I have only kept Chelmon rostratus (copperband). Doesn't touch coral in my tank. I have trachyphyllia, acans, montis, acros, zoas, gorgonians, mushrooms, bubbletips and carpet anemones and much more. This fish eats flakes, pellets, brine, mysis, squid, spirulina, nori, etc. It's like a pig and looks amazing racing through the tank. It is kept with a flame angel, powder blue tang, niger trigger, yellow tang, blonde naso tang, pair of snowflake clowns, fridmani psuedochromis, and maroon clown. None of the fish fight and they are all in a 210 gallon.

Wow. Your tank sounds amazing! I would love to see pictures of it!!!

 

[SDguy]

My experiences:

Black Back(Chaetodon melannotus), Known soft coral eaters, confirmed with personal experience... and small polyps of any coral in general

Pakistan(Chaetodon collare), Mine love mushrooms

or Double Saddle(Chaetodon ulietensis) Had one that loved to eat BTA's

 

[fusica]

My Falcula 4" ate my mini-nem(mini maxi nem or pizza anemone) good news is all aptasia majano gone.
He nip all kind of corals at first but then leave the one he dont like.
Acan he dont like it for sure, he nip them for 2 days, then leave them alone forever.
Sometimes nip on my zoa and ricordea, but didnt eat them. I hope he will leave them alone soon, just been in my tank for 3 weeks.

 

[dinger28]

I have had a Pakistan butterfly in my tank for almost 3 months in a FOWLR setup. Do have a gorgonian in the tank and he hasn't touched it. Picks on the rocks a lot and seems to be loving life. I will see this is my 5th butterfly over the years and the only one to have survived past a week. Thought I couldn't keep them, but guess the 5th time is the charm.