Reef safe bannerfish

[El Langostino]

Has anyone had a Heniochus diphreutes in a reef tank? I think the common name is a bannerfish of some sort, they really greatly resemble moorish idols. It looks almost just like the Heniochus acuminatus, the only difference being that the Diphreutes is supposedly reef safe. I've also heard they are one of the hardiest butterflys so I was thinking about adding one to my 90 gallon system.

 

[El Langostino]

Anybody?

 

[janakaybravo]

Mine's a great reef fish. It doesn't have the long banner though and has a black stripe down its face. It's one of the other ones. There's about six or seven different banner fish. Mine's never picked on anything. I've never seen another one like it though, maybe not common in the trade. I have heard that some banner fish are not reef safe. It would be good to do some research before deciding which kind to buy.

 

[El Langostino]

I'd love to see pictures of it if you have any or don't mind taking some.

I only know of the two bannerfish that look very similar....almost identical, Heniochus Acuminatus, link ->
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=242 ...which is by many accounts not reef safe, and then the supposed reef safe Heniochus Diphreutes.

Is this your fish by ay chance? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=87

 

[mike89t]

I just purchased two Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes). Here they are in my QT:

I wouldn't call them totally reef safe. More like Reef safe with caution. Mine have picked at the feather duster that was in the QT with them (shown in background of photo).

 

[janakaybravo]

Mine is an h. moneceros. It doesn't look like those two. Sorry, I don't have a camera. I posted a thread on this subject in August, maybe you could do a search. There's some great pictures in that thread. It's called bannerfish in a reef, or something like that. My fish doesn't look like the example you posted either.

Jana

 

[Bax]

I absolutly LOVE this fish!

Out in the open all the time constantly grazing the LR, big feeder a real PIG!

I have one in my 75 g ... I plan to get several more when I up grade this summer

 

[El Langostino]

Awesome pictures. Thanks everyone. There are two very small ones at my LFS. They are less than 2 inches in lenght at present. I am considering buying one. Any information as to when it should be placed in the tank? Can it be amongst the first fish or should I instead add it last as to avoid aggresion problems? I wouldn't think that would be an issue as I've heard they are very peaceful in demeanor

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

nice piks guys!

 

[janakaybravo]

My bannerfish is not aggressive to tiny fish like yellow clown gobies, false percs, blue tang. They might be happier together if you have the room. Mine seems to be perfectly happy being the only bannerfish in the system though. He eats anything, even the algae sheets for the blue tang.

 

[El Langostino]

Could one possibly be used as the main source for algae eating in a 90 gallon tank? Say for instance, taking the place of a yellow tang or a foxface rabbitfish?

 

[mike89t]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6519046#post6519046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by El Langostino
Could one possibly be used as the main source for algae eating in a 90 gallon tank? Say for instance, taking the place of a yellow tang or a foxface rabbitfish?

They are Plankton eaters primarily. So I wouldn't consider it a good candidate for your main source of algae control.

 

[mike89t]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6516201#post6516201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bax
Out in the open all the time constantly grazing the LR, big feeder a real PIG!

I can verify that. Mine were eating like pigs the day after I received them. They absolutely go nuts over the Zooplankton and frozen Mysis Shrimp I feed them. Talk about a feeding frenzy!

 

[JeremyT]

Looks like I have a new fish to ponder for my 94g. I'm planning . If anybody's kept a bannerfish in a SPS tank I'd be greatly interested.

 

[janakaybravo]

I have lots of SPS, and mine does not bother any corals.

He's got a cool personality, my favorite fish.

 

[Kent E]

I've had my eye on these fish for a while. Thanks for the reports!

 

[Reel North]

Id love to get 5 when I upgrade to my 300+

 

[hogfanreefer]

Good luck, I've been looking for Heniochus dephreutes for about a year. The only ones I've found showed up at my LFS a few months ago but died in the store.

 

[SDguy]

They get REALLY big REALLY fast.... not a fish most people can keep long term.

 

[hogfanreefer]

They get REALLY big REALLY fast.... not a fish most people can keep long term.

Wow, didn't realize that. Every source I've read listed max size at 7 inches (only listed one specimen of 8") How big do they get?