Chaetodon falcula with other butterflies?

[skraj011]

I'm thinking of adding a Chaetodon falcula to a 125 with chaetodon xanthocephalus (yellow-headed butterfly).

I am wondering whether they will get along? Are falcula on the aggressive side?

Opinions?

 

[skraj011]

anyone?

 

[ntropics]

I have a C. falcula, auriga, miliaris and semilarvatus in an 8' X 24" X 18" 180 tank. There is OCCASIONAL posturing between the butterflies (i.e. spine flaring and pretend nipping) but that is it. I don't know if your particular combination would work, but I have had no trouble. Also in this tank is a naso tang, Centropyge bicolor, bispinosus, and ferugata. I believe part of the reason they get along well (over one year now with each fish about 6 inches long) is that my live rock has MANY hiding spots and caves. The butterflies tend to shoal together most of the time, but they have places to go when tempers flare.

Bruce

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Falculas are listed as being semi-aggressive by Live Aquaria. Many fish get this listing. My falcula is in a QT (37 gal) with a longnose butterfly and hasn't bothered it at all. It is much larger than the longnose. The longnose is a different shape so it doesn't really answer your question about butterflies with a similar appearance to the falcula.

I added a flame angel to the QT 2-3 weeks after putting the falcula in and the falcula hasn't bothered it at all.

I am going to put the falcula in a DT with a ulietensis in a couple of weeks, so I will find out then as the falcula is much bigger than the ulietensis. I don't expect to have a problem because the ulietensis is a fairly active and aggressive feeder even though it is listed as being peaceful.

Keeping the fish well fed will help subdue aggression. While particular individuals may be different, butterflies in general seem to be more accepting of other butterflies as compared to many other species with their own kind. There don't seem to be a lot of posts regarding butterflies that just beat up other fish (like angels and tangs and dottybacks and wrasses and ..._.