caribbean longsnout butterfly?

[mallorieGgator]

Does anyone have any experience with this smaller species?

 

[ackee]

This is one of my favorite fish. I've had 4 over the past 20+ years, and every one I caught myself. The shallowest I found them using scuba was about 70 feet, but they like deeper. They are, in the wild, almost always full size. I've never seen a juvenile. I suspect they are found in even deeper water. Bringing up fish from deep water is always a problem, especially with mature fish. I've lost a few that way.

They are extremely hard to catch, tending to swim away in a straigh line, very fast, not stopping and usually not holing up is a crevice. I have not seen them for sale in local shops, and I'd be hesitant to buy anything I have not seen first. Air bubbles and bouyancy can be the kiss of death.

That said, they are a wonderful fish, delicately colored and lovely, eat blackworms ravenously, adjust to any meaty sea food I've tried, and have swimming habits that are unique. They have a lot of very attractive qualities.

I saw one last year in Dominica while snorkeling in 10 feet of water near a drop off. As soon it saw me it took off in a straight line into deeper water.

 

[ackee]

I should also point out that, unlike most butterflyfish, it's strictly one to an aquarium. They will not tolerate the presence of one of their own species.

 

[Bax]

I should also point out that, unlike most butterflyfish, it's strictly one to an aquarium. They will not tolerate the presence of one of their own species.

I hope this is not too off topic, but when you say that, are they OK with other BFs like a CBB or a heniocus d. ???

 

[ackee]

I've never seen them show the slightest interest in any other species of fish. I've kept them with various Caribbean BFs with no problems, along with angelfishes, etc.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Thanks for the information. I'm interested in keeping one in a 55 gallon. What size tank do you keep yours in? Do you have any problems with it eating corals, shrimp, clams? Thanks!

 

[ackee]

A 55 with high water quality should be fine, as long as it's not crowded and there is enough available (not already claimed as territory) vertical structure. In fact, all things being equal, underpopulated aquariums are ALWAYS much more successful than heavily stocked aquaria.

These fish have very small mouths, and they use the 'snout' to access small holes and fissures in rocks and other structure. I don't think they are coral eaters. In the wild, they eat tiny shrimp and other life forms living in small openings in live rock. Probably the best starter food is uncleaned live rock. They are similar to Mandarin fish in this respect, except that they are aggressive feeders and very willing to eat shredded shrimp, scallop, frozen brine shrimp and similar foods. They absolutely love live blackworms. I saw one tear up small mysis shrimp which were much too large to swallow whole.

Good luck.

 

[rachenbrazil]

Once a friend put one brazilian longsnout in a 200g tank with established Cbb well 20 Min later the longsnout was removed due severe beating in the cbb so if caribean behaves just like one per tank rule is a must...

 

[ackee]

The Caribbean fish and the yellow colored Brasilian fish are almost certainly conspecifics, essentially the same in every mophological respect (except color), probably nothing more than different subspecies. From what I've seen (a friend had a Brasilian for a few years) their behavior is basically identical.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Thanks. The tank will definately be understocked. The caribbean butterfly being the "main attraction" of the tank and a few smaller tank mates (pair of osc. clowns, maybe a YWG, maybe a longsnout hawkfish). Any opinion on keeping one with a small wrasse? Like a flasher? Thanks!

 

[ackee]

Sounds like a good plan.