Chaetodon auriga and sps

[StarF]

Does any have any experience with this butterfly fish? (Chaetodon auriga)
how is it with sps? how about lps? i tend to find a lot of diffrent information about this fish, ranging from will eat polyps, to will only pick but not eat corals.

the reason i am asking, is because i have ben ofred one to remove my aptesia, wich is slowly taking over my sps system. I can live with less PE as long it dosent destry them. So does any have any experience with these and sps/lps ?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

C. auriga

C. auriga

is commonly called the "Threadfin Butterflyfish".

Not a good choice for a reef aquarium IME because it may pick on corals heavily. Not only that, it will eat the tube feet off echinoderms and is very likely to harrass clams. There are better Chaetodont choices.

For Aiptasia predation in a SPS aquarium try Copperband Butterflyfish or Klein's Butterflyfish. Also- certain Angelfish species will eat Aiptasia. Good luck!

 

[StarF]

tnx for the feedback, i will try one of the ones you sugested, it was original thinking about adding a copperband and a mated filefish.

 

[JamesJR]

Auriga butterflies are one of the most destructive butterflyfish for the reef tank. I tried one in a mixed reef and the only thing they wouldn't touch were sarcophyton leathers and lobophylia leathers. From what I understand they are not specialized feeders in the wild and will eat a whole range of of things. Unfortunate that what makes them great candidates for captivity also makes them terrible choices for reef tanks.

 

[StarF]

well at least the choise is easy now, a Copperband is it then

 

[ryshark]

well at least the choise is easy now, a Copperband is it then

Copperbands are not easy to keep alive.

 

[Gills 619]

I know you have the answer but I will add my 5 cents. I love the auriga and put one in my sps tank. NOT a good idea! They eat sps like corn off the cob