Is there a reefsafe Butterfly?

[UH_OH_5_OH]

I've heard people say that the Copperband Butterfly is reef safe while still others say it'll eat everything in sight to include pesky Aeptasia !

I honestly would love a Double Saddleback Butterfly or three but from what I've read and heard...its a no go. I have a 135 that I am starting to stock today and plan to get a few different sp. of Tangs (maybe Naso, Yellow, Powder Blue, Hippo, Sailfin). I am planning on picking up a Royal Gramma today.

I really like Butterflies so is there any hope if I want to also have corals like Brain, Bubble, Hammer and Zenias, Mushrooms ???

 

[Sk8r]

I love 'em, too, but they either come in with the urge to pick at corals or they get it a little later, after you've had time to get attached. Any algae-grazer that will also eat shrimp is apt to take to corals before long.

 

[Anthony597]

heniochus depruites (sp?)

 

[finsurgeon]

I have a copper-banded and it has not touched anything but my aptasia. I had about 20 aptasia 6 months ago in my 215 reef, and while it didn't eat the big ones, it picked off the little ones and the numbers slowly dwindled. I knocked out the big ones with Joe's juice and haven't had a new one in at least 4 months. The copper-banded has behaved quite well, getting along with all my other inhabitants (28 other fish and all the inverts and corals you've mentioned). It is especially important for the species that you make sure it's eating frozen food before you bring it home. My first attempt ended badly when I was too impatient and it never ate at my house, but my LFS was kind enough to keep my next one in a tank with only others of its kind until all of them were on frozen food. Mine likes mysis best and isn't interested in pellets or nori.

 

[shawn1965]

Just like finsurgeon- ate all aiptasia - never seen him nip on any coral (SPS-lps-zoos). Loves to nip at the live rock. My lfs store told me they were hit or miss when it comes to nipping at corals. I took the chance and very happy I did. By now I would have spent more money on joes juice than the fish cost.

 

[NACLH2OFOOL]

My copperbanded is a model citizen, but I've heard all of the same things you mentioned. I've also heard they can be finicky eaters but mine loves frozen mysis and fresh mussels. I clip the mussel still in the shell to the side of the tank and rubber band the shell closed leaving just enough room for only the cbb to get into it. He's fat and happy, so that may also contribute to his lack of interest in my corals.

 

[moonpod]

The bannerfish/heniochus and the deepwater b'flies are your best bets. And pyramid b'flies

 

[hairymushroom]

Henochius eat LPS , i would say copperbands or longnose are your best bet, i wouldnt risk corals for a fish.

 

[Blazer88]

My Copperband has been great in my tank. He ate my one aptasia in the tank and has never touched any corals. As said before, make sure it is eating before you take it home though. Mine goes nuts for Mysis and will eat it out of my hand. Best of luck.

 

[Philwd]

I'm with moonpod. Tinkeri complex may be your best bet for a hardy butterfly with lower risk to your corals.

 

[H.Tanaka]

Yes I agree, and the tinkeri-complex is the hardiest group in the family Chaetodontidae. It includes burgessi, flavocoronatus, mitratus, declivis & tinkeri. Sometimes called Roa, a valid subgenus or genus.

 

[cpage3]

Has anyone here had experience with the tinkeri butterflies in a reef b4, I am interested

~CAP~

 

[moonpod]

yes. It's still a bit hit and miss.

 

[bureau13]

Not always....supposedly, the h. diphreutes (sp?) or schooling bannerfish tends to be more reef safe. I'm going to try a pair I think, so who knows, I may agree with you in a couple months!

jds

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7363354#post7363354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hairymushroom
Henochius eat LPS , i would say copperbands or longnose are your best bet, i wouldnt risk corals for a fish.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7363354#post7363354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hairymushroom
Henochius eat LPS , i would say copperbands or longnose are your best bet, i wouldnt risk corals for a fish.

Depends, Im more a fish guy so why not give it a try!

 

[john f]

I've always had good luck with the schooling bannerfish.

As for some other butterflies, it depends a little bit on density of coral/fish.
I have a copperband, Heniochus, and a yellow longnose in my 1000 reef and don't notice any problems.
Now, put that yellow longnose in a 55 and you may see some corals getting nipped at.

John

 

[drbronx]

Also pyramid butterflyfish are beautiful and relatively reef safe. Hard to come buy but are occasionally stocked on some internet distributors.

 

[triggerfish1976]

I have a Mitratus B'Fly, similar to a Tinker and he picks at any new SPS or LPS coral I introduce and decimated my zoos the first week I put him in the tank. If I didn't love him so much I would have gotten rid of him a long time ago.