Pyramid Butterfly

[ca1ore]

Recently acquired a trio of these fish. Not only my first Pyramid, but my first butterflyfish of any kind. In QT at the moment, but any words of wisdom?

From what I've read, they tolerate copper pretty well, though are susceptible to flukes. FW dip still the way to go for the latter? Also seems like they are a pretty tough butterfly, and should manage my established Yellow Tang without too much trouble.

Are butterflyfish particularly susceptible to ich, should I treat proactively or just observe?

 

[caribfan]

I have 2 in my qt right now and am battling flukes. They tolerated three rounds of Prazi without issue, but the flukes were still present. I then did one round of De Los, which they did not tolerate well at all. They came through it, but I discontinued treatment after the first dose.

I have given them multiple FW dips and that is actually going to be my plan for treating the flukes going forward. Right now, I'm planning to dip every three days.

They eat like champs and have shown no symptoms of C. Irritants, but will still get a round of cupramine once the flukes are gone.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I have a zoster (black pyramid) I'm about to fw dip for flukes . otherwise they seem pretty hardy

 

[ca1ore]

I have a zoster (black pyramid) I'm about to fw dip for flukes . otherwise they seem pretty hardy

Because you see or suspect flukes? Or just as a precaution?

 

[caribfan]

For me, I try to dip most of my fish while they are in quarantine at least twice, if nothing else to confirm that flukes are not there.

Fwiw, both my pyramids were dipped for 10 minutes in a FW solution with the NFG powder without any issues the last go around.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Because you see or suspect flukes? Or just as a precaution?

Both. Pretty sure he has them. And as precaution

 

[ca1ore]

For me, I try to dip most of my fish while they are in quarantine at least twice, if nothing else to confirm that flukes are not there.

Fwiw, both my pyramids were dipped for 10 minutes in a FW solution with the NFG powder without any issues the last go around.

Sorry, NFG?

One do my trio looks a bit dodgy. Is the biggest of the three, but swims right at the surface of the tank, almost partly out of the water; and he is 'panting' most of the time. Did a 10 min FW dip today and didn't see anything fall off. Starting first round of prazipro also.

 

[caribfan]

Nitro furacin green powder. The main reason I do that is because it contains methylene blue which I think is beneficial during FW dips.

Watch closely for bacterial infections, I had three to begin with, but lost one to a bacterial infection.

Are they all eating?

 

[ca1ore]

Nitro furacin green powder. The main reason I do that is because it contains methylene blue which I think is beneficial during FW dips.

Watch closely for bacterial infections, I had three to begin with, but lost one to a bacterial infection.

Are they all eating?

Ah, OK.

I got them from two different LFS. One, at the shop for a while is in one QT, looks really good and is eating. The other two, recently arrived at the second LFS, are in a second QT. One of them looks OK, the other not so good - that is the one doing 'laps' at the surface. Likely not a good sign. Neither of these latter two are eating.

 

[the808state]

pretty hardy if collected right. they eat anything

 

[3dees]

I have a chaetodon auriga and a chaetodon punctatofasciatus in qt. I observed for one week, then prazi for a week. now one more week of observation. they have been perfect since day one. don't really want to do copper just for the sake of doing it. might do another round of prazi but I think we sometimes go overboard on medicating fish that don't need medicating. I would do copper only if it was a tang unless a fish was showing signs of ich.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

A agree for the most part. Out off all my fish I have only used copper on a batch of fish I rescued from Petco loaded with ich. The rest have been mostly weeks of observation. However I'm about to fw dip my butterfly then pick up some prazi and run a few rounds of that

 

[ca1ore]

A agree for the most part. Out off all my fish I have only used copper on a batch of fish I rescued from Petco loaded with ich. The rest have been mostly weeks of observation. However I'm about to fw dip my butterfly then pick up some prazi and run a few rounds of that

Yeah, I only use copper when symptoms are present or proactively with Tangs. I plan to treat all three of these Pyramids with FW dips and do two rounds of prazipro - though need to get the latter two eating as well. - but will likely not do copper (though will observe for at least 8 weeks, probably 12)

 

[caribfan]

Point of contention here. In my experience, there is no reason to treat only tangs with copper if the tang is then going to be introduced into a display tank with fish that haven't been treated with copper.

I used to think a long observation period was acceptable, but learned the hard way that a fish untreated by copper is most likely a fish with c. Irritants, even if it doesn't show itself. Once those fish are mixed and the first bit of stress occurs, you get an outbreak.

Just my experience and opinion, disagree with it if you like.

 

[SDguy]

I'll just add to that. IME, butterflies are every bit the sensitive ich "magnets" that tangs have the reputation of being. Anything you would do to a tang, should be done to a butterfly, IME/O.

 

[ca1ore]

Fair enough! I shall modify 'the protocol' - particularly since, as I noted in the OP, these are my first attempts at keeping butterflyfish.

BTW, pyramid that was doing laps is now floating, bummer. Mad at myself because was in a rush at the LFS and did not watch the fish adequately before buying.

 

[ca1ore]

I used to think a long observation period was acceptable, but learned the hard way that a fish untreated by copper is most likely a fish with c. Irritants, even if it doesn't show itself. Once those fish are mixed and the first bit of stress occurs, you get an outbreak.

Just my experience and opinion, disagree with it if you like.

No, nothing to disagree with, just I suppose the level of 'risk' one is willing to bear. I am fortunate in that observation only has been successful for me - though I don't doubt that luck plays a part also. But I shall treat these fish as I would Tangs.

 

[caribfan]

Fair enough! I shall modify 'the protocol' - particularly since, as I noted in the OP, these are my first attempts at keeping butterflyfish.

BTW, pyramid that was doing laps is now floating, bummer. Mad at myself because was in a rush at the LFS and did not watch the fish adequately before buying.

Ah man, I'm sorry to hear that. I think I mentioned it before, but the one I lost was due to a bacterial infection. It developed popeye and some kind of infection around it's mouth and ended up losing the top part of it's jaw.

I wasn't trying to be preachy earlier, just sharing my experiences.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I'm at work but did a fw dip on mine before work and he did fine during the dip but did not look like he was going to recover from it before work so he is probably gone now also had the mouth rot starting and part of his mouth was gone as well...

 

[caribfan]

I'm at work but did a fw dip on mine before work and he did fine during the dip but did not look like he was going to recover from it before work so he is probably gone now also had the mouth rot starting and part of his mouth was gone as well...

Thats exactly what happened to the one I lost. I'm sorry to hear that.