Butterflytown - 240 FOWLR

[suta4242]

Quick question if you don't mind caribfan.

How do your venustus and multibar interact? Reason I ask is I'm thinking of trying to pair up an existing multibar with a venustus (assuming I can find one that doesn't look half dead). Obviously I'd like to avoid any punch ups, but it would be an interesting match if it works. :hmm2:

Thanks for your time,
Angie.



:wave:

 

[caribfan]

Get Chaetodon rafflesi, cheap fish that looks unique, I love mine.

Definitely thought about it before, I had it in my head that they were difficult though.

Not the case?

 

[caribfan]

Quick question if you don't mind caribfan.

How do your venustus and multibar interact? Reason I ask is I'm thinking of trying to pair up an existing multibar with a venustus (assuming I can find one that doesn't look half dead). Obviously I'd like to avoid any punch ups, but it would be an interesting match if it works. :hmm2:

Thanks for your time,
Angie.



:wave:

Never mind a question.

There is very little interaction between my venustus and multibar. I had hoped to see some courtship or chasing/circling or something, but I just haven't.

I do think that two of my larger venustus engage in some courtship / spawning behavior though, so that may be the reason for little interference from the multibar.

The small regal and the multibar do it get into on occasion though, I assume because they both have vertical stripes and are about the same size.

I'd say go for it on the paring. The key to these fish is finding good strong healthy specimens. My first three venustus didn't stand a chance. I ordered these three expecting to lose one or maybe two and they all made it, so now I have a trio.:spin1:

If I was serious about pairing, I'd probably remove them and put them in their own tank.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Definitely thought about it before, I had it in my head that they were difficult though.

Not the case?

I've tried 2, the first had disease and never ate. The second one I tried ate almost everything and went through copper without any problems. Peaceful, very active but a slow grower.

 

[caribfan]

Well I did a nice big WC today and added the modestus. Also removed the puffer again, the semilarvatus is still picking on him.

The Achilles was, shall we say, not happy with the change. I fed the tank heavily, put an algae clip in, put a mirror on the glass and turned off the lights, hopefully he calms down and quite chasing my new prized little butterfly.

 

[Dmorty217]

Seems like you need to setup a holding tank for the AT until your done adding fish. I would imagine that one of these times it won't end well. The Semi still giving you problems I see. Let me know when you want me to take him off your hands!

 

[caribfan]

Seems like you need to setup a holding tank for the AT until your done adding fish. I would imagine that one of these times it won't end well. The Semi still giving you problems I see. Let me know when you want me to take him off your hands!

The AT usually mellows out after a few hours or so, the mirror really helps.

I do have plans to get rid of the semi, but not until I'm able to source two smaller ones, sorry buddy.

 

[Dmorty217]

Hopefully they stop fighting in Yemen so they start exporting fish again.

 

[caribfan]

Hopefully they stop fighting in Yemen so they start exporting fish again.

Things are mellowing down in my tank all ready.

I asked my buddy to talk to his Red Sea contact, I'll let you know if I hear anything.

That modestus is no pushover.

 

[Dmorty217]

That's good to hear on the Modestus. Always a ballet when it comes to adding new additions

 

[caribfan]

So... I'm pretty sure that in the short time the modestus has been in my tank, it's started a fight club. I watched it nip at both my big regal (boss of the tank) and my big dusky.

Is it possible this fish acts as a cleaner in the wild? If so, the regal and dusky weren't too happy about being cleaned.

I've watched a few other butterflies that don't typically nip at other fish start doing that as well. Oh how the chemistry changes.

Here's a quick clip from tonight, sorry for the actinics.

 

[caribfan]

Fish eating clams. My dusky is down right Midwestern style fat.

 

[SDguy]

Fish eating clams. My dusky is down right Midwestern style fat.

Love the regal. Fish look great!

My dusky is my fattest BF, not counting the stripey (since it's technically a chub - LOL, name isn't a coincidence :lol: ).

 

[caribfan]

Thanks Peter, the tank is definitely filling up. I'm really glad I picked up that modestus, it's quickly becoming one of my favorites.

The regal is without question the boss of the tank.

I've got two borbonius anthias and a lemonpeel in quarantine that I want to add, but I'm waiting for the right time. One off the borbs has a swim bladder problem and I'd really like to remedy that before I add it.

I'm only missing a few butterflies, and of course they are the high dollar ones.

How's your group doing? I keep thinking its time for a bigger tank.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I too am a lover of butterflyfish and used to have a beautiful tank with them and a very large Emperor Angel. I sure miss that tank but not all of the aggravation that went along with having/keeping/cleaning/maintaining it. But man I miss it

I'm glad I found your build this morning and just started reading it. Looking forward to the progress! :thumbsup:

 

[caribfan]

It can definitely be a lot of work at times, especially when I get behind on wiping the algae.

I think I'm getting close to capacity, but I'd definitely like to add a Mitratus and a Declivis still. I also want a couple of those ocellatus that Peter had a few years ago. I've found a place to get them from, but can't meet the minimum yet.

I'll try to keep things updated, I'm hoping to make some equipment purchases in the future. Fish are just so much more exciting than pumps though.

I'll be sure to keep things updated.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Matt, I finally read through all of the pages. I'm on sick leave as I just had spine surgery last Thursday so I've got all day to sleep and read about fish

When I saw the picture of the altivelis I thought of the Heniochus as I use to have a few of them. I called them the "nurse" fish of my tank as they were cleaners. I'll have to dig out my old pc and get the pictures of my fish one of these days. Might just spark the bug to do it again... OK probably not LOL Especially with my back going to take quite a while to heal.

They wound up doing a decompression on L3-S1 and only fused L4-L5. I couldn't believe they let me go home the next day but I was doing very well. Now having some weird nerve pain but that is to be expected due to the swelling. Hard to tell if my walking pain is better or not as I can't do that very well yet. I can say that 95% of the numbness I had before surgery is all about gone and could be 100% after I heal.

So for now I'll live vicariously though you, Derek and Peter with my addiction to butterflyfish and Angels Your collection is amazing and great story to follow. Good luck in finding the next additions that are seemingly becoming harder to find.

 

[caribfan]

Matt, I finally read through all of the pages. I'm on sick leave as I just had spine surgery last Thursday so I've got all day to sleep and read about fish

When I saw the picture of the altivelis I thought of the Heniochus as I use to have a few of them. I called them the "nurse" fish of my tank as they were cleaners. I'll have to dig out my old pc and get the pictures of my fish one of these days. Might just spark the bug to do it again... OK probably not LOL Especially with my back going to take quite a while to heal.

They wound up doing a decompression on L3-S1 and only fused L4-L5. I couldn't believe they let me go home the next day but I was doing very well. Now having some weird nerve pain but that is to be expected due to the swelling. Hard to tell if my walking pain is better or not as I can't do that very well yet. I can say that 95% of the numbness I had before surgery is all about gone and could be 100% after I heal.

So for now I'll live vicariously though you, Derek and Peter with my addiction to butterflyfish and Angels Your collection is amazing and great story to follow. Good luck in finding the next additions that are seemingly becoming harder to find.

Appreciate The kind words, Peter's tank was pretty much the inspiration for much of my stock list. Once I saw a tank full of butterflies I knew that's what I had to do.

I'm really sorry about your back troubles, I've had a few muscular issues recently and it was no fun. Can't imagine having the structural issues you did with the surgery.

Like I said, I've got a few more fish to add, but I'm quickly realizing I'd like a bigger tank. I can't out the size I want in my current home though, so it's going to be a few years before that happens. I'd like another 2 ft in length and another 1 ft front to back.

 

[jjk_reef00]

I'd like another 2 ft in length and another 1 ft front to back.

You forgot another 1 ft tall :lol2:

 

[caribfan]

You forgot another 1 ft tall :lol2:

It's all ready 32" high, it's almost too deep as it is now.

I might go the full 36" when the time comes, but for now it's a moot point since I'm not moving for another couple years and there's just no way a tank that size could fit in my house.