Reef Butterfly experience

[falconut]

Has anybody had one of these guys? They're not the most colorful fish, but they are pretty neat looking. The information is very limited on the internet, so I'm looking for personnel experience with them. Here is a photo of one, which also goes by Chaetodon sedentarius:

I've been able to find the following information:
- they get a maxium of around 6"
- they can swim quick short bursts, not long endurance swimming
- they live on reefs in the wild
- the mouth is adapted to crevice feeding
- they eat worms, shrimps & amphipods

My LFS gets them in at about 2". I'm trying to decide if I would like to get one. I'm just having a hard time deciding. Are they pretty hardy for a butterfly or not good at adjusting to aquarium life as some butterflies? I have Zoas, and mostly softies, but the best source I've found lists nothing about them eatting corals. So, I'm looking for personnel experience for help.

Thanks.

 

[francis1123]

my friend has one. very cool little fish. LOVES to eat acans. hasn't touched anything else but acans. each fish of course is going to be different.

 

[falconut]

francis1123 - If you don't mind, how big is it and what other corals does he have?

 

[francis1123]

about 3.5". she has zoanthids, hammers, a variety of softies and lps pretty much. a couple SPS. she suspected it may have picked at an SPS, but never witnessed it, and the SPS has recovered with no other pick spots.

 

[r-balljunkie]

I had one. Brought ich, or some other marine disease. Wiped out all my anthias and clownfish. mine ate aptasia, nipped corals.

My buddy bought one 2 weeks ago. His tank has a nasty case of ich, going thru same thing, lost a blue tang he had for 2 years. He has a fish trap now, trying to get it out.

wished i never put in my tank. Some of the fish i lost were with me 4 years +
good luck
c

 

[falconut]

r-balljunkie - Sorry to hear about your losses. I plan to QT it before it goes into my display. Does your Reef Butterfly shows signs of diesease or was it just the other fish that suffered? You say nipped corals, what types of corals was it nipping? How big was it? Any specific info. on the Butterfly would be helpful.

 

[screwsloose]

i had one for a year in my tank and it took care of all the aptasia i had plus all the fanworms. i never had a problem with it picking at any corals. mainly had zoos,softies and lps

 

[r-balljunkie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15214574#post15214574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by falconut
r-balljunkie - Sorry to hear about your losses. I plan to QT it before it goes into my display. Does your Reef Butterfly shows signs of diesease or was it just the other fish that suffered? You say nipped corals, what types of corals was it nipping? How big was it? Any specific info. on the Butterfly would be helpful.

the BFF seemed fine when introduced, both cases.

mostly softies, chalices, blastos, some zoas, definately feathers. not too keen on SPS. it died as well. took a whole crew of fish with him.


c