In general, are the hardier butterflies easy to keep?

[Ironsheikh]

I know some are too hard for the aquarium --usually the most beautful ones.
But, are the hardier butterflies easy to keep in a FOLR?
Online, you can get some pretty nice butterflies for $25 compared to angels which are a little more, but I've always had an impression that they were too hard to keep.
I'd like to try a less expensive one first like a Pakistan or bennet's and eventually try a Red Sea Golden

 

[FindingSalt]

The Auriga butterflies are nice. Ive never had a problem with my all it does is eat.

 

[LisaD]

If you look at Scott Michael's book on butterflies and angels, he has a detailed discussion of the relative hardiness and marine aquarium suitability of many butterflies. It's a good book, I just got it for $27 from amazon, with free shipping.

One of the hardiest genera is Heniochus, don't know if you like that look or not...

 

[Ironsheikh]

no, I like the snub nose look and not into the needle.

So I'll probably try the bennet's or Pakistan first --maybe both since they're only $24 online

 

[LisaD]

According to Scott Michael,

Pakistan butterfly (C. collare) is moderately hardy, and should be kept as single individuals, as they tend to fight in aquaria. Juveniles (around 3") may acclimate best. These may eat corals.

Bennett's butterflyfish (C. bennetti) usually "has difficulty adjusting to substitute foods and often refuses to eat foods commonly offered by aquarists", according to Scott Michael in his Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes book. He reports that it usually does not do well in captivity.

The most hardy butterflies he lists are thes below. They are not coral polyp eaters, and are most likely to adapt to the food a home aquarist can provide:

Genus Chaetodon:
C burgessi (Burgess' butterflyfish)
C fremblii (bluestripe)
C lineolatus (lined)
C miliaris (lemon)
C sedentarius (reef)
C semeion (dotted)

Other genera:
Coradion altivelis (highfin coralfish)
Forcipieger longirostris (big longnose butterfly)
Hemitaurichthys polylepis (pyramid)
Three genera of Heniochus
Prognathodes aya (bank butterfly)
Prognathodes aculeatus (Caribbean longnose)

I have kept marine aquariums a long time, about 27 years, but I don't have much experience with butterflyfish. If I were looking to start keeping them, I would pick from this list to start. Moorish idols don't cost that much either, but I wouldn't try to keep one unless I was confident I could keep it alive.

Most of these fish need a 75 gallon tank or larger.

 

[hooterhead]

i've got a black back butterfly and have had him/her for about 3 months with no problems so far (knock on wood). at the first day and has taken care of some of my aiptasia as well (welcome surprise). good luck in choosing!

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I kept an auriga for about four years until I just broke down the tank, it was a very hardy and undemanding fish and ate everything I fed.

 

[Homer J]

I have kept a H. polylepis (yellow pyramid) in my 110 for two years now. Never a problem with him (knock on wood). Has never touched an invert in my tank. He's about 5" and has eaten every food I've ever put in there. Swims out in the open all day. Model citizen and beautiful fish.

Thinking of putting a couple Heniochus diphreutes in there with him. Have heard only good about them and they are reef safe to boot.

 

[Big E]

Homer,

I've heard the H. polyepis lose the black coloring of the head area over time in captivity. Has this happened with yours?

 

[JENnKerry]

no, I like the snub nose look and not into the needle

I was just getting ready to suggest the Heniouchus and longnose as they are two of the hardiest

 

[Live_Rock'r]

Lemon butterflies come from Hawaii and are real hardy with nice coloration and a cool shape. I had one and loved it. They get big though.

 

[marrone]

A lot of keeping butterfly fish is not only the fish but what you have in the tank with them. For the most part they can't be keep with very aggressive fish and they need good water quailty. Even the most hardy butterfly fish can be pushed around by other fish and cause to not do well. In general watch out for the buttefly fish that are really colorful or just eat polyps as most don't do well.

As for books well most aren't correct, including Scott Michael book, and you should do research on any fish before you buy it. Find out it's requirements and if you can provide though requirements to keep it alive. Remember you may find someone keeping a fish that is very hard to hard but for every one fish that you see being kept against the odds tons don't make it and probably should have been left in the Ocean.

One of the more bullet proof butterfly is the Kleni Butterfly which eats just about anything and is pretty aggressive. I'ts pretty cheap and does well with other fish.