Reef Safe Butterflyfish?

[snorvich]

Yeah, I agree and do.

 

[snorvich]

tcmfish, despite that article, I am nervous about this fish. Do you have personal experience with it?

 

[Zaita]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13111434#post13111434 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tcmfish
Zoster or Pyramids. Are good. I hate that post no butterflies are reef safe when clearly those are. Also Chaetodon ulietensis is reportedly reef safe. Terry seigel and Greg Schimer have kept them and they were great pest removal fish (aptasia majanos) put didn't bother corals. If you feel risky you could try one.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13113791#post13113791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
although pyramids are probably the safest bet for a butterfly, they are also not 100%. I have known a few people who tried them in reefs and they started eating LPS and other meaty foods. This was mainly due to lack of feeding and poor diet since they weren't feeding enough. A well fed fish is much less likely to pick at corals then a hungry one.

As mentioned. Maybe it's the safest of Butterflies, but not 100%. And yes, tangs for the most part are "reef-safe with caution" too. Anyone who buys a tang thinking it's 100% reef-safe is kidding themselves, just ask my Hippo tang and it's appetite for Zoanthids.

My advice still stands. While it maybe the most reliable of butterfly fish as far as being reef-safe. Don't blame the fish if your corals start to get nipped. Others have offered very valuable advice above as to feeding etc for these fish

 

[reefman8471]

forcipiger longirostris

forcipiger longirostris

I have kept one of these in a stony coral reef for months and it does not touch anything. Everything I read also says they are certainly one of the most reef-safe butterflys. Also, Heniochus diphreutes.

James

 

[tcmfish]

I don't have experience with it but the people have reported it reef safe are no slouches. They've been around a bit. I trust their word but as he said in the AA article he is still leary about it and will continue to report its behavior, but look how far we have come with large or pgymy for that matter angels in reef tanks. A few years ago it was a rarity now everyone is trying it and succeeding depending on their coral choices. Think of how much more natural a reef tank would look with a butterfly and a diversity of fish other than tangs.

 

[tcmfish]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aaeditorial/view?searchterm=Chaetodon

There is a link BUT I have a big complaint. The fish in his photos of his tank is not a Chaetodon ulietensis!!!! It is the true falcula version (Chaetodon falcula)! He stated in a previous article that he order it from Foster and Smith so either they sent the wrong fish or he doesn't know which as chief editor he should know the stupid fish. Man that gets me but hey its still doing good.

 

[zack1a]

I am in the exact situation, as matter of fact; I just started a thread trying to find a Heniochus diphreutes. Scott W. Michael author of "A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Fishes", might as well be a bible in this hobby, says this fish is reef safe. The only problem is finding a reliable dealer that will give you Heniochus diphreutes and not Heniochus acumatus, which would not do well in your reef. I will be purchasing this fish as soon as I find a verifiable specimen. I will be definitely be tagging along here and check out my thread, if it goes any where.

 

[tcmfish]

Yeah those are good but its hard to tell the difference. I'm sure you know the differences but I would feel safer having both species side by side to make sure it is correct. Good luck man.

 

[zack1a]

Ha! Well I appreciate the confidence but I couldn't tell the difference either. I know of the minute variations but these are fish, and at the ideal purchasing size I have even less faith in my meager knowledge. It doesnt take long in the hobby to know that even offspring don't aways look like their parents, it's nature. The objective is to find reputable dealer. I have been looking at saltwaterfish.com but their description left me with more questions.

 

[zemuron114]

H. dipheurtes is found in Hawaii (the only heniochis in hawaii) If you can find a collector or wholesaler in Hawaii then you are guaranteed to get H. Dipheurtes. However, these are another butterfly that is not 100% reef safe. I have heard many stories locally about dipheurtes munching on some corals. Keep them well fed.

 

[gliebig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13131255#post13131255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
H. dipheurtes is found in Hawaii (the only heniochis in hawaii) If you can find a collector or wholesaler in Hawaii then you are guaranteed to get H. Dipheurtes. However, these are another butterfly that is not 100% reef safe. I have heard many stories locally about dipheurtes munching on some corals. Keep them well fed.

How are they with clams?

 

[zack1a]

I have had a porcupine puffer that was reef safe and invert / shrimp safe. He/she wouldn't eat anything that I didn't feed him/her. Like you said "keep it well fed". Probably the best fish I have ever owned, unfortunately he died last week. I saw it coming, I moved 1500 mi and he never bounced back. He made it about three months after the move but was never the same. Just goes to show how you can manipulate their natural eating habits.

 

[zemuron114]

no idea on clams. Not to many people with clams in Hawaii

 

[acpoweradapter]

Anybody ever kept an Auriga in a reef? They are my fav and I would love to have one. LA says they aren't reef safe though so...

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13128898#post13128898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tcmfish
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aaeditorial/view?searchterm=Chaetodon

There is a link BUT I have a big complaint. The fish in his photos of his tank is not a Chaetodon ulietensis!!!! It is the true falcula version (Chaetodon falcula)! He stated in a previous article that he order it from Foster and Smith so either they sent the wrong fish or he doesn't know which as chief editor he should know the stupid fish. Man that gets me but hey its still doing good.

That butterfly in those pics is stressed too...note the dark top half of the fish.

 

[Bax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13131322#post13131322 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gliebig
How are they with clams?

Mine have always been good with clams and SPS, LPS zoos, no problems so far. I have had two different ones in a reef for three years now. They can be tough to get through QT. I have rarely lost a fish in QT and I have lost two heniocus d.'s in QT. I feel it may have been collection and or shipping as they were eating well and doing fine otherwise.

This is a great fish always out and about.

 

[zack1a]

I don't think it would be and issue but how are they with tangs?

 

[mrwilson]

Anybody with either yellow pyramids or the black zosters - while not mowing down your corals (obviously good), do they also munch on aiptasia and/or majanos (which would be really good!)?