Is It Falcula Juvenile or Ulietensis Butterflyfish?

[Dr Colliebreath]

I have a fish that was sold to me as a falcula. It doesn't have any yellow on its dorsal surface, although its dorsal ridge of fins is yellow. The black saddles are barlike and extend most of the way down the fish. Until recently, I couldn't tell whether the black on the tail was a spot or a band, but it now looks like a spot. The fish does have the red markings in the tail area like the falcula.

I have wondered for some time whether the fish was a ulietensis rather than a falcula. The fish is 3".

Does anyone know whether the falcula has the yellow on its dorsal area and wedge-shaped saddles as a juvenile or do they appear as it gets older?

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Here are a couple of pictures

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=155101&stc=1&d=1311304578ictures of the fish:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=155102&stc=1&d=1311304578

 

[jjk_reef00]

I think it is Chaetodon ulietensis.
How long have you had him?
Did you qt, if so please describe your procedure.
Did you introduce all your butterflys at once?
Where did you get him?

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

It certainly looks like ulietensis unless a falcula undergoes substantial changes as it matures, which I don't think is the case.

I have had both of the fish for 6 weeks and they were in a 37 gal QT (the saddleback was acquired at the same time). I just put the two fish in the DT yesterday. Both ate well from the outset. A yellow longnose butterflyfish that came with them died in a couple of days and obviously arrived sick.

The QT had 2 smaller fish before these two, so it had a pretty good biofilter. I have a HOB Aquaclear 50 and a sponge/airpump filter for filtration plus 2 pieces of PVC for hiding.

I tried treating prophylactically with Cupramine at slightly more than 50% of the recommended dose. The falcula/ulietensis stopped eating after day 5. I am not sure whether it was caused by the Cupramine. I pulled the Cupramine after day 10 and the fish started eating again a couple of days later. The saddleback showed no effects the whole time. I also prophylactically treated the fish with 2 doses of PraziPro.

Both fish eat small pellets. The saddleback eats just about anything I feed. The falcula/ulietensis only really eats pellets since he resumed eating, but he will eat as many as you care to drop in the tank. I am feeding other foods in the DT and expect he will start eating them (he ate a few arctipods tonight but ignored some fresh scallop).

 

[jjk_reef00]

Congrats on some beautiful fish! Butterflys are my new favorite fish. Eating pellets is great news. Feed several times a day.

 

[Big E]

Chaetodon ulietensis for sure.

I believe falculas are less likely to eat softies or all your corals like the ulietensis does.

Either way both BF's look great...............congrats.

 

[snorvich]

Chaetodon ulietensis for sure.

I believe falculas are less likely to eat softies or all your corals like the ulietensis does.

Either way both BF's look great...............congrats.

I agree. Chaetodon ulietensis

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I noticed in one of the threads listed below under similar threads that someone from the UK posted pics of 2" falcula and they had full coloration.

The ulietensis at least will be a bit smaller at the expense of going after coral. I guess it would be tempting fate to try and introduce a falcula now and I am not sure what I am going to do about corals.