Pairing butterfly fish
- Thread starter SDguy
- Start date
ShrimpChipGal
New member
Man ... you have a color scheme going there. Lol. The black to dark blue to yellow and white. 
I really like your fish choices!!!! And everything is coming together real nice! So one question, is that the hawaii flame paired with the other one?
And also have you thought about growing some macro algae to add another color to the tank (green)? I think it would look great in there.
Keep up the good work, and I hope you don't mind the algae comment.
And also have you thought about growing some macro algae to add another color to the tank (green)? I think it would look great in there.
Keep up the good work, and I hope you don't mind the algae comment.
LukFox
Active member
This thread inspired me to pick up a couple of these (one is 3", and the other is 4") last night. They got along in the tank they were in, but unfortunately I only had two to choose from. They both ate in front of me, so I had them bagged up. I let them interact for what must have only been a minute or less earlier today (I have them separated by eggcrate), and there was a little fin flaring and posturing... I got nervous I was stressing them out too soon and quickly replaced the eggcrate. It may have subsided, I am not sure. I know you said there was a little aggression at first with your two, so I might take a video to see if what I saw was okay or too aggressive. The smaller one is already eating pellets, and I'd probably keep that one if they turn out to be incompatible.
Please keep updating this thread; it's been really informative!
Please keep updating this thread; it's been really informative!
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I really like your fish choices!!!! And everything is coming together real nice! So one question, is that the Hawaiian flame paired with the other one?
And also have you thought about growing some macro algae to add another color to the tank (green)? I think it would look great in there.
Keep up the good work, and I hope you don't mind the algae comment.
Bluezoo has a few cool butterflyfish in the WYSIWYG section, that I could see mixing in well...
Thanks!!
No, the HI flame got ill in the acclimation chamber while I was away during the holidays. The resident flame then proceeded to rip all of its fins off through the slots of the acclimation chamber
It didn't make it...This new (most likely Marshall Island) flame is TINY (1"), and just came out of QT. Not a hint of aggression from the larger resident flame. The pairing couldn't have gone better
That is a really, really good idea about the macro! I'd forgotten what it's like to not have a tang in a tank
However, those meredithi eat quite a bit of algae, so I'm not sure larger macro will be left alone, but it is certainly worth a try!As for more butterflies, that is doubtful. The tank is already overstocked
Here is the rundown, and some ideas about the future...2 x meredithi - keep
1 x asfur - keep, unless it gets large/aggressive
2 x flame angels - keep
2 x allardi clownfish - keep, unless they get mean if they start spawning
2 x YLN BF - keep
1 x blackback BF - keep
1 x saddleback BF - keep
1 x Heni diphreutes - unsure, they get big, fast. Probably remove soon.
1 x dispar anthias - keep, and add 2 more
1 x bartlett anthias - keep, and add 1 more.
Thank you! Actually, as I wrote in the beginning, once I paired these two in the holding container at the wholesaler, they simply circled each other, and then nothing. No aggression. After that, I only saw minor flaring during feeding. Flaring otherwise, when not feeding, IME, is not a good sign...
No, it is a small saddleback butterfly. It's the strangest small saddleback I've ever seen. Full adult body shape and colors (except for the eye stripe still being prominent). Otherwise, dorsal filament, prominent purple belly stripes, etc... Very neat. However, he was a bit mistreated prior to me acquiring him, so even though he eats pellets like they are going out of style, he continues to have the pinched forehead. I am hoping it will go away, but as of yet, no luck. Of course, now that he is in the DT, he can be fed a lot more, since in QT one is always trying to balance feeding with water quality.
As for corals, I always wanted this to be a FOWLRAWCTDE (Fish Only With Live Rock And Whatever Coral They Don't Eat)
I basically try everything, and see what lives/doesn't get eaten.Acros and other SPS were ruled out quickly, due to water chemistry not really being watched, and water quality not up to par. I thought finger leathers and colt corals would be perfect, and look great. The blackback BF put the kabosh on that. Currently, I have discosoma, rhodactis, BTAs, galaxia, euphyllia, and some palys.
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LukFox
Active member
I forgot to mention there was food in the water! :spin1: The bigger one was being a bit stubborn about eating mysis so I was hoping the smaller one would give it the right idea (they were eating something smaller at the store). But it seemed like they both forgot about the food when I removed the divider. They are always peeking at each other with the divider, and not just every now and then, but constantly. They even sleep with just the divider between them, side by side. I don't know if they're just interested in each other, or they just want to beat the crap out of each other. I may have to try the group idea, and let them pair off themselves at this point. I'll try removing the divider when food isn't present and see what happens...
ShrimpChipGal
New member
That black back butterfly's lines are starting to bow hehe.
LukFox
Active member
Alright, I just got home an hour ago (spent the night and day at the coast, meaning they didn't get fed for 24 hours :worried and let them interact. There was some flaring so I fed them and it got worse, but eventually they just started eating mysis. Both of them ate heartily, whereas the bigger one wasn't too enthusiastic yesterday. This video was taken 30 minutes after the feeding aggression settled down.
They seem mostly uninterested in each other. What do you make of them?
and let them interact. There was some flaring so I fed them and it got worse, but eventually they just started eating mysis. Both of them ate heartily, whereas the bigger one wasn't too enthusiastic yesterday. This video was taken 30 minutes after the feeding aggression settled down.They seem mostly uninterested in each other. What do you make of them?
LukFox
Active member
I think things have been going better since yesterday. They slept about an inch apart, and today they're following each other around a lot more. And best of all, during their early morning feeding there wasn't so much as a flared fin in sight. They ate peacefully. I still have trouble believing I got that lucky, so I'll keep an eye on how they're treating each other!
