safest butterfly for all sps

[jubjub]

reading the thread about whats the best butterfly for zoa/softies been thinking of it do butterflies really like sps? or mostly softy/zoa's? if so what would be the best sps friendly butterflies, that have the best chance of survival

im really likeing the auriga butterfly what i read they like lps/zoa's any issues with sps?

 

[JGHA]

I would probably have to say that Pyramid Butterflysplus they are great looking. These are amongst the safest you can find as they are planktivorous. One recommendation only, add them in pairs or a trio they tend to do better that way. Dont really know why.

 

[johnteatro]

I used to have pyramid butterflies in my tank, and they didnt bother athing.

They look awesome in a school.

 

[mpoletti]

Copperband's are pretty safe as well.

 

[hybridazn]

what about raccoon butterflies? anyone know if they are coral safe?

 

[Blackgagt1]

racoons are not generally safe

 

[chrisqueenz]

How about a Kleins? I have seen people keep them in reef tanks

 

[francis1123]

every kleins i have seen put in friends tank has eaten LPS. acans, frogspawn, brains. i would not consider them safe at all.
i have had a copperband and a pyramid in my reef. the CBB will eat cocoworms, and if he get's hungry clams. the pyramid touched nothing.

 

[ourmanflint]

My Kleins don't touch Zoa's at all, they love nipping at Palythoas though. Had to remove a large Trachy as well, as it was being nipped a little too much. I think the secret to keeping Butterflies lies in having a large, full and varied system, so no coral bears the brunt of their habits.

 

[tcmfish]

I would think if you added an auriga it would pick at SPS, but I haven't tried and don't know anyone who has.

For those of you who commented on a klein's eating zoas and LPS, the question was about SPS and I think you would have a good shot of keeping a klein's with SPS. Gary M (sorry don't know the last name) has a klein's in his awesome reef!

That being said your best bet would probably be one of the Hemitaurichthys butterflyfish like the zoster or pyramid, and like someone else said I would add a group, they look nicer that way.

Copperbands, mulleris, and marginalis would probably be next.

And then probably those of the tinkeri complex or the Prognathodes.

 

[FishGuy5]

Will the Pyramid take care of aiptasia?

 

[Dejavu]

Will the Pyramid take care of aiptasia?

None that I have kept have, as stated they are planktivorous. mine seldom even pick at the rock.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Will the Pyramid take care of aiptasia?

no!

IME the "safest" SPS reef aquarium Butterflyfish would be well fed
1) Pyramid, Zoster
2) Chelmon spp. (Copperband, Mueller's etc.)
3) Klein's

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

Love the pennisula tank Gary!

I have 3 pyramids and they all pick at my sps just a nip here and there.