Butterfly's in a sps dominated reef

[9thwonder]

What are the best reef compatible butterfly's. I know some keep the Copperband with some success. Just wondering what other kinds would be ok. Would Chaetodon collare or Hemitaurichthys polylepis be ok?

 

[skibum9884]

while i've read that many can be kept with SPS fairly well, i've found that Prognathodes are generally pretty good with SPS.

Mine doesn't nip at all from what i've seen.

 

[skibum9884]

but they are on the expensive side....

 

[dflad]

Most from the Tinker complex will be acceptable in an SPS only tank. Pyramids and the like are also known to be coral safe. My copperband loves acans...so just a heads up that they are not that coral safe.

 

[ironwill723]

skibum what angel is that in your avatar?

 

[skibum9884]

it's an interruptus, i wish it were mine, but i'm still looking for one!

 

[jd474]

We use plain old Raccoons in our 8 or so SPS-only propagation tanks. Have also used false-falculas (C. ulietensis) in a couple mixed reefs with great success, minimal/no picking. I also have had Copperbands behave as model citizens in mixed reefs, as well. As always with this topic, some people will say otherwise, and everyone has an opinion. General consensus seems to be Pyramids, but I've never personally tried one, and they are a little more uncommon in the trade (at least with our vendors).

 

[erendon]

I have a copperband and a long nose. I have not had a problem yet. They have been in the tank 3 months.

 

[9thwonder]

awesome thanks. i'm looking forward to my upgrade so i can purchase some.