Pearlscale Butterflyfish/Tomini Tang

[Chibils]

I have a question about each of these fish: one lfs had a small, 1.5" pearlscale butterfly. It was gorgeous. Like, AMAZING. I've never been much of one for butterflies, but I really considered picking him up. Does anyone have any experience with this fish, especially in a reef environment?

Another lfs had a tiny, very shy 1" tomini tang. I REALLY enjoy watching fish grow out, so I was very interested. He would not eat prepared food, but has subsided on the hair algae and Caulerpa serrulata in the tank for at least three weeks. It's hard to get a good view of him, but he does not look skinny. The store has a 48 hour survival policy but will offer credit to me as long as I return him alive. His biggest fear with the food seemed to be the people coming so close to the water. They have him on hold until tomorrow (when their big coral sale begins). What would you do?

 

[SDguy]

I can tell you from experience that a 1" tomini is not surviving on HA or caulerpa (they lack the mouth parts capable of eating such foods). They eat micro (think film) algae, and lots of detritus. When I bought mine, he was paper thin. The only food he would eat was pre-crushed, pre-soaked flake food (basically particulates), and any and all detritus/microalgae he could find in the tank. Hope this info helps....

 

[Chibils]

Maybe he was eating microalgae off the caulerpa?

 

[Chibils]

bump.

 

[klasiksb]

I had a pearlscale in my tank. He liked hammers, torches that whole family. He didn't bother any thing else. There was not any sps in the tank so I can't give you any info on that. It was a gorgeous fish, but he just stopped eating and died. I will more than likely try another.

 

[Chibils]

Good news - I have no Euphylia. Hopefully that will not extend to zoanthids and ricordea.

 

[Chibils]

bump.

 

[glassbox-design]

I would not trust zoas with a Pearlscale.

 

[Chibils]

That's what I'm worried about. I picked up two sps pieces (a monti and an acro of some sort), but other than that I have zoas, rics, a monti, and a nice little majano farm in one corner. -_-