Chaetodon octofasciatus eightband butterfly

RDtrack

RDtrack

New member
So I recently released my Chaetodon octofasciatus in my display. Needless to say my juvenile goldflake Angel does not like him. Went on attack mode immediately. So the Little eight banded is in the sump.

Read somewhere that just the presence of another fish's smell in the water might help aggression.

Do I chance putting it back in the display and see what happens or just take a nice healthy eight banded back to my LFS?
 
I'd recommend purchasing or making an acclimation box and putting the eight line in there. This way the angel and and butterfly can interact without physically touching or harming each other. Within a few days I believe the angel will calm down and you can release the butterfly when the lights go out.
 
No chance for quarantine here? I believe octofasciatus is a corallivore and can be a challenge to get to eat. Was it eating at the store?

My experience on butterflies is that they usually benefit from some alone time to get them established, or at the very least, a low stress environment. Lots and lots of feedings early into this guys captive career are necessary for long term success. Try clams on the half shell and finely minced shrimp.
 
The butterfly was QT, I was just trying to introduce it to the tank. But my GF in my display decided that he didn't like the little guy (they both are about the same size, which doesn't help).

I was feeling somewhat bad taking it back to my LFS after I spend the time QTing it.

Now I'm looking at purchasing an acclimation box.

Just curious are eightbandeds that rare?
 
Good to hear he went into quarantine, is he eating well for you then?

I'm not sure they are rare, but more likely not brought in often. LA has them on their site, but not in stock. I've only seen one in my LFS, but they don't bring in much of a variety of butterflyfish.

I had the chance to buy one six months ago that was eating brine shrimp and almost pulled the trigger, but in the end did not. I wish I had now though, especially since that particular one was eating.
 
Yuppers eating like a little pig. That's why I'm bummed that my GF is/was being a jerk. Little guy went into defense mode and I was able to net him out again. Maybe in the DT for a matter of 5 minutes.

I set up a QT when I have a new fish so I don't keep one set up. Also had just performed a final fresh water dip before he went in. So I had emptied out my QT of water, hence the reason he is now in my sump.
 
+2 on the acclimation box. Other tricks to try are:

1. Re-arrange the tank. This will reset the territories in the fish's mind
2. Try a mirror on the wall. Aggressor fish will fight his own image thinking another goldflake is in his space, and forget about the butterfly
3. add a temporary divider, like a piece of egg crate or similar.

The aggression is only temporary, and the two fish will ultimately get along. Using the above tricks will help get past the initial aggression.

You will have the same trouble with anything you introduce in the future, so it is best to learn to deal with it.
 
Thanks for the tips. I'd rather not try to arrange a established reef. Also the eggcrate wouldn't work either.

The mirror would work but I'd probably have more problems with my other fish attacking it to.

I'll just wait till I get a acclimation box.

Sorry I'm going to try to keep him ;)
 
Also, with the critter keeper, you can add a pvc elbow or T so the newly introduced fish has a place to retreat.
 
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