Might not be worth trying for me. My tank is not that big so it probably wouldn't end well. I'm sure I'll be able to find a home for a healthy, well established CBB pretty easily.
Pairing butterfly fish
- Thread starter SDguy
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Might not be worth trying for me. My tank is not that big so it probably wouldn't end well. I'm sure I'll be able to find a home for a healthy, well established CBB pretty easily.
euod
New member
In my experience butterflies in general, even when paired, there is a bit of chasing. Unfortunately with my tinkeri pair, only one made it out of QT
Sorry to hear about the Tinker. Did you ever get any redback butterflyfish?
Achilles Torben
Member
Hi
I had a pair of Chelmon marginales. The small one was the first in tank. A few months later I put an big one also. The small one fights the big one for nearly a week. After that they swim together. Before I tested a marginales that was just a little bit bigger than the first one. That was not a good idea. Bigger one killed after 2 days.
If it possible for you catch the bigger one. Introduce the smaller one and put back the bigger one after a few weeks.
Greetings Torben
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No, I haven't really been buying any new fish for a while now.
MrsBugmaster
New member
I have not experience with CBB, but I am currently trying to have a "pair" themed tank.
The plan is to have everything in pairs. I currently have 4 Pakistan Butterflies in QT. I got one from LSF, 2 from LA and one form DD. Of course the DD one is the only one not eating. Have had them for 6 days now. I am hoping to come out with a tri of these guys, or at least a pair. I fear the DD one will not survive though. They are all a little different in size. They are 3.5 to 4.5 " in size.
I also have in another 55 gal QT tank 5 small 2 1/2" Indian Vegabond (Chaetodon decussatus). Have had them for 3 days and all are eating great. I wanted a little bigger ones to start with but this was all that I could get at this time. I have been waiting for a few months now for larger ones but got tired of waiting and decided to try this size since so many of these were available. So far one of the 5, that I call the loner is, keeping to it's self and chases the other 4, which stay together in a group. I will see who pairs up and sell the rest.
I currently have a Mitratus Butterfly in my DT that is 12 years old so I don't think I will try to pair it up or even if it's possible due to it's age.
The plan is to have everything in pairs. I currently have 4 Pakistan Butterflies in QT. I got one from LSF, 2 from LA and one form DD. Of course the DD one is the only one not eating. Have had them for 6 days now. I am hoping to come out with a tri of these guys, or at least a pair. I fear the DD one will not survive though. They are all a little different in size. They are 3.5 to 4.5 " in size.
I also have in another 55 gal QT tank 5 small 2 1/2" Indian Vegabond (Chaetodon decussatus). Have had them for 3 days and all are eating great. I wanted a little bigger ones to start with but this was all that I could get at this time. I have been waiting for a few months now for larger ones but got tired of waiting and decided to try this size since so many of these were available. So far one of the 5, that I call the loner is, keeping to it's self and chases the other 4, which stay together in a group. I will see who pairs up and sell the rest.
I currently have a Mitratus Butterfly in my DT that is 12 years old so I don't think I will try to pair it up or even if it's possible due to it's age.
I had a pair for alittle over 18 months worked out well until I had something come through and wipe out half the tank. Not exactly sure what it was since I didn't add anything for at least six months prior.
What seemed to work for me was to get two CBBs on the smaller side the larger of the two was maybe 3 inches while the smaller was in the 2 to 2.5 inch ranges. They were both eating well at the LFS in separate tanks. I added into the tank at the same time. They were also the largest additions at the time. my tank in 220 live rock with some simple LPS. There never seemed to be any real aggression. Occasionally during feeding time there would some chasing but nothing that last more than a few seconds. In that time they grew to at least 4 maybe 5 inches with some girth on them. The bigger one was definitely the dominant fish in the tank the other was always slightly smaller. Only other relevant thing I can think of is that they were the largest fish in the tank.
What seemed to work for me was to get two CBBs on the smaller side the larger of the two was maybe 3 inches while the smaller was in the 2 to 2.5 inch ranges. They were both eating well at the LFS in separate tanks. I added into the tank at the same time. They were also the largest additions at the time. my tank in 220 live rock with some simple LPS. There never seemed to be any real aggression. Occasionally during feeding time there would some chasing but nothing that last more than a few seconds. In that time they grew to at least 4 maybe 5 inches with some girth on them. The bigger one was definitely the dominant fish in the tank the other was always slightly smaller. Only other relevant thing I can think of is that they were the largest fish in the tank.
MrsBugmaster
New member
Looking for some advice please.
I am trying to create a pair themed tank. I got 5 Indian Vegabond Butterflies and put them in my qt. They were all small at about 1 1/2 inches but vary slightly in size. With-in two weeks two of them died. ( they just won't eat) After qt I put the remaining 3 is a 55 grow out tank. Two of them are same size and one is slight smaller. The smaller one has always chased the other two from day one. Fast forward 4 1/2 months later; the smaller one is still slightly smaller than the other two and continues to chase the other two bigger ones. Several times I check on them a couple hours after lights out and the smaller one is usually alone on opposite side of tank in a pvc cave, but sometimes is with the other two in a group. The bigger ones are always with each other and never just one of them with the smaller one. I am wanting to put them in my DT now so I can free up space in that tank for something else. They are still small at maybe a little over 2 inches. Not sure what size they form pairs. Not sure if the two bigger ones are a pair or both females since they are usually together and don't chase each other. Is the smaller one maybe a male and that's why it is always chasing the other two? Should I put all three in DT and see how it plays out? And remove one if needed. Or just add the two bigger ones? DT is 180 gal.
I am trying to create a pair themed tank. I got 5 Indian Vegabond Butterflies and put them in my qt. They were all small at about 1 1/2 inches but vary slightly in size. With-in two weeks two of them died. ( they just won't eat) After qt I put the remaining 3 is a 55 grow out tank. Two of them are same size and one is slight smaller. The smaller one has always chased the other two from day one. Fast forward 4 1/2 months later; the smaller one is still slightly smaller than the other two and continues to chase the other two bigger ones. Several times I check on them a couple hours after lights out and the smaller one is usually alone on opposite side of tank in a pvc cave, but sometimes is with the other two in a group. The bigger ones are always with each other and never just one of them with the smaller one. I am wanting to put them in my DT now so I can free up space in that tank for something else. They are still small at maybe a little over 2 inches. Not sure what size they form pairs. Not sure if the two bigger ones are a pair or both females since they are usually together and don't chase each other. Is the smaller one maybe a male and that's why it is always chasing the other two? Should I put all three in DT and see how it plays out? And remove one if needed. Or just add the two bigger ones? DT is 180 gal.
MrsBugmaster
New member
Nothing but the sounds of crickets in here!
Big E
Premium Member
Vagabonds don't swim in groups in the wild..........they are seen in pairs
At this point you need to take one of them out and mix/match to see which two will bond together.
It's up to you which two you want to try first. Whichever one you take out I'd keep until you're sure you have a pair. I'd probably try the two larger that seem to get along. The smaller seems more aggressive about driving the other two away maybe defeding a feeding ground.......does he get more aggressive when you are feeding them?
It may take a few months to get this figured out right for the long term.
I wouldn't put them into the display until you're sure you have a pair that get along for a few months alone.
https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Chaetodon-vagabundus.html
At this point you need to take one of them out and mix/match to see which two will bond together.
It's up to you which two you want to try first. Whichever one you take out I'd keep until you're sure you have a pair. I'd probably try the two larger that seem to get along. The smaller seems more aggressive about driving the other two away maybe defeding a feeding ground.......does he get more aggressive when you are feeding them?
It may take a few months to get this figured out right for the long term.
I wouldn't put them into the display until you're sure you have a pair that get along for a few months alone.
https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Chaetodon-vagabundus.html
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MrsBugmaster
New member
@ Big E, there is no aggression during feeding. That is one of the times they all get along nicely. I am trying to form a pair not a group but read on here that the best way to do that was adding a group and letting them sort it out for themselves. So that is what I was trying to do. I will remove the smaller one and see how that goes. I knew going into this that it will take several months if not a year since starting out with all small ones. I have 5 qt/grow out tanks so space in not a problem. Thanks
Big E
Premium Member
I agree that your initial plan seems fine, but you asked about putting all three in the display and that's a mistake you would end up regretting.
Right now you're in the next phase..........you've seen the interaction between them and this gives you a better idea how to proceed.
Right now you're in the next phase..........you've seen the interaction between them and this gives you a better idea how to proceed.
