Pairing butterfly fish

[SDguy]

I'd like to hear about experiences pairing butterfly fish. I've seen the occasional tinkers or semilarvatus pair for sale before, but never the less expensive, smaller species. Has anyone had experience pairing butterflies?

TIA

 

[Jacob D]

I've had a couple weeks worth of experience

I'm along for the ride on this one. I have 2 semilarvatus in a 55g QT right now. Both fish are around 3" in size. I let them hang together for a week but the alpha won't let the other one eat. I split the tank with an eggcrate tank divider. They are both eating now and check each other out through the eggcrate. They'll be in there for at least 5 more weeks, I'm hoping they'll get used to seeing each other and chill out.

If they never pair up, I'm hoping the 360g is going to give them enough space to steer clear of each other, at least until they get larger.

 

[ccampbell57]

Peter - I have two Declivis that get along very well. When I added the second one, I made sure that he was well quarantined and eating like a pig. I added him into the main tank and he was bossed around for a bit by the bigger declivis but it subsided and they swim around together all the time.

The key is to get them conditioned and strong first (similar to angels) and then add them together.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15022927#post15022927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
The key is to get them conditioned and strong first (similar to angels) and then add them together.

I totally agree...but is the rest of it just a crapshoot? Is "getting along" the same as a female/male pair? Do they change sex, or no?

In your case I'd say swimming around together must be more than just tolerating each other, ya?

 

[Ian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15022927#post15022927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
.....I have two Declivis............

Lucky.......

 

[SDguy]

DP

 

[SDguy]

I was gonna say "showoff" actually

 

[lux_06]

when u dive here on the GBR, you will see copperbands in pairs everywhere, all the same, 1 large fish, 1 small....

 

[Big E]

I've always bought multiple BF's & let them pair off on their own..............they were in the 3-4" range.

I"ve done it with Semi's & Pakastani's.................they will pair for "life" if done this way.

If you are trying the less expensive species I'd go that route, but be prepared to have alternative homes if/when the others are bullied.

I would'nt bother trying two unless I already have one that's established & wanted to add a mate.

I'm not sure, but I don't think BF's change sex like clowns, anthias,wrasses.............so I don't think the size idea would matter or make sense. If I'm wrong then I guess the large & small(juvi) route would seem logical.

Another thing to consider is that BF species have different behavioral characteristics. Some are loners unless in breeding mode, others are always in pairs & yet another type are seen in groups. I'd research which type of behavior is expected & lean towards the grouping BF's.............they should be the easiest to pair.

 

[SDguy]

So I'm trying my hand at this with a pair of common pearlscales. They were in the same cube at the store. In the acclimation bucket, they started posturing/not getting along. Does this already indicate they are the same sex, or no?

 

[LuvAngels88]

At the moment, I've got 2 Pakistani BFs and 2 Semilarvatus BFs in QT tanks. So far, they are getting along and don't stray too far from one another. The Pakistanis have been in QT for 6 weeks and the Semis for about 3 weeks. The Pakis are 3 and 3-1/4 inches. The Semis are 3-1/2 inches and 3 inches. I'm wondering if these are fish that just get along naturally or if they are male/female.

 

[Jacob D]

My semilarvatus are not exactly buddy buddy (still in QT together).

I would love to have a pair of collare too!

 

[Big E]

It doesn't sound like a good early sign Peter. You probably need more time to see how it goes. Are they juveniles?

LuvAngels,

Both these species group in the wild so its probably hard to know right now, especially because your BF's aren't mature yet.

 

[zemuron114]

it is difficult to pair butterflies as most of the time they are collected as pairs naturally. I have tried to pair tinkers with little success. Declives are a little easier.

almost all tinker Pairs you see were collected as pairs.

 

[LuvAngels88]

Thanks, Ed.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15306325#post15306325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big E
It doesn't sound like a good early sign Peter. You probably need more time to see how it goes. Are they juveniles?

Hmmm, promising.... they follow each other around in the 60g QT, no fighting. Maybe it was just a space idssue in the acclimation bucket. They are juveniles. 2-3" or so each. I'll try to snap some pics today.

Edit:

 

[Big E]

Nice looking pair.................any updates?

 

[SDguy]

Thank you.

They swim around together, and don't fight, so at least they get along.

 

[Big E]

Sweeeet, good luck with them. Most people may not be impressed cause they are common, but I bet there are few to no one that has kept these & other so called easy BF's in pairs, grown to adults & living for 5-10 years. I'm mainly speaking of the common Indo varieties.

They are truely fish for experts & the ultimate challenge.

 

[SDguy]

Thanks for the kind words. I know, I admit I'm kind of boring with my fish in the sense that I love the common ones. But they are beautiful to me nonetheless.

My current pride and joy (not to be paired, since they get so big)