My new Chaetodon Rainfordi and Chaetodon Flavirostris

[caribfan]

So Live aquaria has had the Rainfordi Butterflies in stock for a couple of weeks now. I wanted to take advantage of the free shipping threshold, so when the Dusky Butterfly showed up on DD this past Wednesday, I jumped at the oportunity.

This was my first order from LA/DD and the packaging and livestock was heads and tails above my other online ordering experience.

Both fish acclimated for just over 1.5 hours and the dusky was eating PE Mysis within 30 minutes, as was advertised. The Rainford has taken some more work, but has taken a liking to Blue point oysters. I also tried little neck clams, PE mysis, Hikari Brine, and a combination of the LRS Fish Frenzy and Reef Frenzy. At the moment, he seems to only like the oysters, but the feeding response is improving every day.

Here is a quick video and picture. The Dusky is pacing more than I like to see today, I saw a slight amount of flashing last night, so I may dip it later this week to see if there are any flukes.

I can't say how impressed I am with the livestock from LA and DD. To have these two difficult butterflies come in and both be eating in less than a couple days speaks volumes.

 

[caribfan]

Here is the video...

 

[las]

beautiful BF

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

great looking fish

 

[reeferstace]

DD is the best! Nice looking fish you have there. Good luck with them!

 

[caribfan]

Thanks for the kind words everybody, I'm a little enamored with these guys, especially the Rainfordi. I have a guy locally that I usually source my fish through, but when I saw both of these pop up, I had to get them.

The dusky seems to have settled down this morning, I'm not sure what the laps were all about yesterday. I did a WC and i'm wondering if that helped as I had been feeding the tank pretty heavily this past weekend.

I'll try to post another video with better quality of them eating mysis tonight, fingers crossed that the Rainfordi will start taking to that.

I spent most of yesterday working on my sump for my 240 build, I can't wait to see these guys in there amongst the rocks, still have the full quarantine regimen to go though.

 

[ca1ore]

This was my first order from LA/DD and the packaging and livestock was heads and tails above my other online ordering experience.

Recently made my first order (and then a second quickly thereafter) and would echo the terrific packing and shipping. I think they will become my defacto go to for sensitive fish

 

[caribfan]

Rainfordi eating little neck clam this morning, this is nice as the oysters would have been pricey long term. The little necks are part of the standard fare I normally offer, but I'd still like to get him eating mysis of the LRS food too.

 

[SDguy]

Nice fish! My rainfordi doesn't care for Mysis, but will eat all sorts of minced seafood meats. Pellets too. I don't think he likes the shell/legs/heads of mysis.

 

[caribfan]

I was hoping to hear from you on the rainfordi Peter. I was going to try shaving some frozen Florida hoppers this afternoon. He seems like he enjoys picking more than taking food from the water column, we'll see.

The dusky eats everything...

 

[caribfan]

Here is another quick video of the quarantine tank during feeding time. I need to get a HOB skimmer as my water has clouded a bit with the increase in feeding clams. The ammonia is always a 0, but it's still a bit cloudier than I like. Until then, I will be doing small water changes on a daily basis when I suction out any leftover food.

For those who say quarantine is too difficult, that little Regal has been in this tank, devoid of LR for more than three months. Don't get me wrong, i'm itching to put in my display tank, but long term quarantine is definitely possible.

 

[caribfan]

Both fish are eating PE mysis. I think i'm going to wait a week and start the standard quarantine regimen beginning with Prazi, though i'm becoming pretty skeptical of it's effectiveness.

I might try to take an actual decent video and some decent photos later tonight or tomorrow.

LA and DD rock!

 

[Holyhands22]

that is awesome when i got the email from divers den i wanted the dusky. By time i got on the website it was already sold. Nice catch. Im in the middle of getting a declivis. My dream tank would be angels tangs and butterflies.

 

[caribfan]

Sorry, I got the sneak peek and was ready at 6 exactly. I was freaking out because it was my first purchase from LA and it was having me register and do all this other crap and I was worried I was going to have somebody else swoop in and steal it.

If another one comes up, I would say you can buy with confidence as mine seems to be getting along just fine.

Good luck with the Declivis, it's definitely on my list in the future.

 

[Holyhands22]

I really enjoy the butterfly fish and that picture was the first time I had seen the dusky butterfly.

There are a lot more of the chaetodon species than I thought. Pretty much everyday they have a different chaetodon up. They are all pretty awesome

 

[caribfan]

Well I may have done something bad. I've been feeding a lot of clams/oysters lately to these two fish which they accept readily.

Unfortunately, that's about all they accept now, which is kind of disheartening since the Flavirostris came in eating mysis and also had taken to the LRS food. I'm debating holding off on any more clams to see if I can get them back eating the other prepared foods.

Anyone have experience sustaining butterflies on clams alone?

 

[Ninchen]

Looks good

 

[jjk_reef00]

Get them really fat and then try to get them to eat the other foods.
I've also spoiled fish in QT and that is the primary reason I don't feed clam in QT unless it is absolutely necessary. I try to get my fish eating chopped raw shrimp first because it fattens fish up and most butterfly fish take to it fairly easily.

If you plan on medicating them you may just want to continue with the clams. IME once they hit the display they will adjust back to other frozen foods.

 

[caribfan]

I've had the rainfordi and flavor patria for just over a week now. They will both get between 8-10 weeks in quarantine.

I have plans to treat both with cupramine and Prazi, but that won't start for another week or two.

I'll try the shrimp later tonight and see how they feel about it.

 

[caribfan]

So here's a quick update. The chopped shrimp seems to have done the trick on the Dusky, which is good news.

Some bad news though, or at least concerning news. I noticed this afternoon that the Rainfordi is appears to only be using one of his gills? The other side is moving really fast, but one side appears to not be in use at all. Anyone seen this?

I dipped both the Dusky and the Rainfordi for 6 - 7 minutes and didn't really see much come off. I'm considering dosing NFG powder since I don't have just methylene blue and that contains the methylene blue. I know that seems to be a product that can help with gill discomfort / burning.

Any thoughts on this? Ever seen a fish use only one side of its gills? The rainfordi is still eating when I offer clams, FWIW.