Semilavartus Golden Butterfly

[ROBONE20]

I picked up 2 Semilavartus Butterflies today and they're in QT right now. They've been at the LFS for about a week, and have been eating Mysis like pigs. They both look fat & healthy and they seemed to be getting along fine together at the store. I put them in my QT and one was picking at the other already. So I put egg crate in between them so they won't stress each other out. But do you think these guys will continue to duke it out once I put them in a 240 gallon tank? Or do you think they'd co-exist? Anybody have a pair of these right now that are doing fine? I've read on reefhotspot and liveaquaria that these guys can be kept in pairs or bigger groups.

 

[snorvich]

I don't know, but I have a pair arriving on Tuesday. So we shall see . . .

 

[flameangel88]

But do you think these guys will continue to duke it out once I put them in a 240 gallon tank? Or do you think they'd co-exist?

I'd 2 that got along very well and even eat corals and live clams side by side for the first 3-4 months then all of a sudden they turned on each other and the weaker one stopped eating. I got them back in Nov 2007 and the surviving Semi is doing pretty well. I've been told unless they are of opposite sex otherwise it's only a matter of time they'll kill each other.

They were about 4"

Hope to hear better outcome from you and others trying a pair.

 

[snorvich]

How does one sex them?

 

[ROBONE20]

I guess it's just the luck of the draw. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. These guys started eating already in my QT...so far so good. I'd be interested in how to sex them as well. Too bad their not like anthias right where they just establish their pecking order. I'm wondering if maybe I put some other butterflies in with them later down the road, that it would divert their attention from each other and they'd be alright. We'll soon find out.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I don't know that you can sex them; they just happen to be one of the few marine fish that will do well in groups. Your "pair"could be a M&F, 2F, or 2M. I've had 2, then 3 and they are magnificent fish. I think the squabbles are just due to the move and small quarters of QT. I'll bet they're fine in your DT. BTW, these fish love a fresh, opened clam from the market once in a while.

 

[ROBONE20]

Hey MrTuskfish thanks for the positive feedback. Hopefully they do fine in my DT. I do think that the smaller QT made it harder for them during the transition. We'll soon see though. I'll try a fresh clam and see how they like it. Thanks.

 

[nonimmigrant]

I am down to one GB mainly due to the fact that one of my original pair decided that he/she was the boss and almost beat the other into oblivion. It started once it hit about 4/5". I eventually pulled the one fish that was getting beaten up and sold it to a friend. I tried it again a year later with a different GB and got the same result after about 3 weeks. Considering their potential size, I'm more than happy keeping just one. Keep an eye on them.

This is mine when it was about 4"...

 

[jbeard82]

where did you get them? Iv been looking for one for a good price for a long time now!!! Paying almost 200 bucks for one shipped to my house is a little nuts for them. Who knows I may just have to bite the bullet.

 

[ROBONE20]

where did you get them? Iv been looking for one for a good price for a long time now!!! Paying almost 200 bucks for one shipped to my house is a little nuts for them. Who knows I may just have to bite the bullet.

Don't know where you're located, but the LFS that I usually go to had a sale 30% all livestock and they were retailed at $100 each. Do the math...I think I really scored. They're about 4 inches each too, and ate at the store before I bought them. Liveaquaria had them for awhile at about $130 or so each. I guess alot of people in the area are more into corals. Hopefully I can get them to co-habitate, otherwise I'll have to sell one of them.

 

[jbeard82]

Im located in Middle TN. I actually lucked out today. My local Store was actually able to get ahold of one for me and they should have it tomorrow after 3 weeks of begging them to get me one. LOL I have no idea how much he will be though. Hopefully hes nice and at a good price! Atleast I didnt have to pay for shipping!

 

[ROBONE20]

Here's an update...I removed the egg crate that divided them and they seem to be getting along fine. One actually has started to swim a little more erradically, but I think it's because the QT is a little cramped, maybe a little stressed. I'll keep them in there for a month or so and probably dose with some prazipro. It looks like their tails have a little whitish film on them, not sure what that could be. I'll watch it though. Still eating Mysis like pigs.

 

[ROBONE20]

Im located in Middle TN. I actually lucked out today. My local Store was actually able to get ahold of one for me and they should have it tomorrow after 3 weeks of begging them to get me one. LOL I have no idea how much he will be though. Hopefully hes nice and at a good price! Atleast I didnt have to pay for shipping!

I personally prefer to purchase from a local store so you get to check them out yourself. Shipping costs always stops me from buying online, but that's just me. Good luck to you too. Hopefully it's a good specimen.

 

[jbeard82]

Yes id prefer that as well. Plus I have no obligation to buy the fish if he dosent look to healthy.

 

[LargeAngels]

I'd 2 that got along very well and even eat corals and live clams side by side for the first 3-4 months then all of a sudden they turned on each other and the weaker one stopped eating.QUOTE]

Same. One all of the sudden just turned on the other just like a switch was thrown. I now only have one.

 

[jbeard82]

Well i got him this morning! he looks real healthy as well. I figured he would swim straight to a hiding spot in the tank, but to my suprise hes out in full force exploring like hes been in the tank several weeks. So far I have a spotted mandrain goby, a tiger goby with a pistol shrimp, a regal angelfish and the golden butterfly fish. I plan on maybe getting possibly 2 or 3 more fish. I want a pair of clowns and a white cheek/gold rimed tang. And ill be done. What do you guys think?

 

[jbeard82]

What are you exactly feeding yours if you dont mind telling me.

 

[ROBONE20]

Well i got him this morning! he looks real healthy as well. I figured he would swim straight to a hiding spot in the tank, but to my suprise hes out in full force exploring like hes been in the tank several weeks. So far I have a spotted mandrain goby, a tiger goby with a pistol shrimp, a regal angelfish and the golden butterfly fish. I plan on maybe getting possibly 2 or 3 more fish. I want a pair of clowns and a white cheek/gold rimed tang. And ill be done. What do you guys think?

Sounds like a good mixture. What size tank do you have these fish in? I like the idea of a pair of clowns? If you're tank is big enough try doing a small shoal of Lyretail anthias.

 

[ROBONE20]

What are you exactly feeding yours if you dont mind telling me.

Right now I'm feeding Hikari Mysis Shrimp, and they love it. It's only been a few days now, but I plan on trying some Spirulina Brine Shrimp, too. You can do PE Mysis Shrimp also. Last night I tried some NLS pellets, but they spit it back out. My goal is to get them fat and healthy, then transition to NLS pellets before I dropped them in the DT. All my fish in my current DT have transitioned to pellets and it's so much easier to feed them. By the way I try feeding 2x per day, and I soak at least one of those feedings with Vita-Chem.

 

[D-Nak]

Just drop the hammer and buy a few more Semilarvatus, as I'm guessing they do better in groups. I was at the Georgia Aquarium and they had quite a few (in the tank near the gift shop) in one tank and they seemed to be doing okay. Since Semilarvatus are my favorite fish, I spent quite a bit of time watching them (I think people thought I was nuts). I was counting them as well... $100, $200, $300...

I'll see if I can dig up the photos.