Reef Happy
New member
Anyone know much about these Tahitian Butterfly fish (Chaetodon Trichrous)? Supposed to be good fish for eating aptasia.
Tahitian Butterfly fish
- Thread starter Reef Happy
- Start date
Reef Happy
New member
Yes, Pat I did. Here is what they have to say about them. I have had the copperband butterflyfish and getting them to eat other food other than the aiptasia was what I had problems with and hear that from many.
The Tahitian butterflyfish (Chaetodon trichrous), sometimes simply called the Tahiti butterflyfish, is a fantastic fish when it comes to controlling aiptasia in a saltwater aquarium. Best of all, it is far hardier than other fishes commonly known to eat aiptasia (e.g., copperband butterflyfish). When added to a peaceful community tank of at least 50 gallons, this attractive fish will target any pest anemones in the aquarium, and, once the aiptasia is gone, it will readily accept a captive diet.
Originating from the eastern Pacific around the Society Islands, Tahiti, and the Tuamoto Islands, the Tahitian butterflyfish may grow to about 12 cm. It is considered a reef-compatible species by most aquarist, although it has been known to nip at some polyps in a few isolated situations. Keeping this fish well fed may go a long way toward avoiding any problems in a reef tank. Offer it meaty bits of table seafood, along with foods commercially prepared for ominvores and carnivores.
"Using a vitamin supplement, along with frequent offerings of meaty marine flesh, will help the Tahitian butterfly retain its colors," suggests Mark Martin, director of marine ornamental research at Blue Zoo. "So once the aiptasia is gone, you will have a beautiful fish to add color and interest to your aquarium."
The Tahitian butterflyfish (Chaetodon trichrous), sometimes simply called the Tahiti butterflyfish, is a fantastic fish when it comes to controlling aiptasia in a saltwater aquarium. Best of all, it is far hardier than other fishes commonly known to eat aiptasia (e.g., copperband butterflyfish). When added to a peaceful community tank of at least 50 gallons, this attractive fish will target any pest anemones in the aquarium, and, once the aiptasia is gone, it will readily accept a captive diet.
Originating from the eastern Pacific around the Society Islands, Tahiti, and the Tuamoto Islands, the Tahitian butterflyfish may grow to about 12 cm. It is considered a reef-compatible species by most aquarist, although it has been known to nip at some polyps in a few isolated situations. Keeping this fish well fed may go a long way toward avoiding any problems in a reef tank. Offer it meaty bits of table seafood, along with foods commercially prepared for ominvores and carnivores.
"Using a vitamin supplement, along with frequent offerings of meaty marine flesh, will help the Tahitian butterfly retain its colors," suggests Mark Martin, director of marine ornamental research at Blue Zoo. "So once the aiptasia is gone, you will have a beautiful fish to add color and interest to your aquarium."
Pudge957
New member
Ya even though there emails get a little annoying at times bc it seems like there is something from them everyday, they are very helpful and I end up reading them. I thought about getting a small one just to see how they are and they aren't to expensive. Then later on trade it to someone else after it grew a little bit. If they did eat the aptasia that would be awesome, I can't seem to get rid of them in my tank :-/
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Reef Happy
New member
I thought about getting a few of them. We could go in on a order if you want. Anyone else interested? I could call them tomorrow and see how many they can ship.
Reef Happy
New member
1.5 - 2" are $17.97 and 2-3" $23.97
Reef Happy
New member
Okay anyone else? Figure in shipping with total later.. I will call tomorrow to see how many are available.
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
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madkat
New member
If I decide to get in are we going to spilt the shipping? or will we al just get dropshipped to our place?
Brandon1652
New member
Sounds like a neat fish, maybe next time...
ixouttheeyes
New member
I'm in need of snails, so long as the same shipping methods apply.
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
cjilge
New member
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
Cjilge 1- sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
I'm in cool fish, worth a try, Besides she'll have a nice new bigger home soon!
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
Cjilge 1- sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
I'm in cool fish, worth a try, Besides she'll have a nice new bigger home soon!
(Reef Happy) 2 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $35.93
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
Cjilge 1- sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
75glreef - 1 sm Tahitian butterfly 17.97
(Pudge957) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(FTexas) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(swamp63) 1 - sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
(ixouttheeyes) - 30 Nassarius Snails $20.40
Cjilge 1- sm Tahitian Butterfly $17.97
75glreef - 1 sm Tahitian butterfly 17.97
Reef Happy
New member
oddballs
In Memoriam
They remind me of the Kleins butterflys that I was getting in for a while.They would eliminate any aptasia in short time which was awesome but once the pests were gone they went straight on to the lps section of the tanks they were in! I had a kleins that I sold 2 times and each time the people would bring him back after he ate all of the aptasia and started on there acans and favias and such.Finally I just started renting him out and he cleaned up 6 or 7 tanks before someone who did not have a reef tank gave him a permanent home.I am in no way saying that you should not try these guys just make sure and watch them after the anemones are gone,hopefully they wont bother any other corals in the tank.
I have had great luck lately with copperband b-flys,I have had 2 or 3 that I move tank to tank and are aptasia mowers. The cool thing is that they all are eating mysis like pigs once the aptasia are gone.In the past I have had a 50% or less sucess rate with copperbands,even to a point that I would not order them anymore because of there not so great survival records.About 3 months ago one of my trusted wholesalers said he was getting some really healthy ones so I ordered 4 of them and I still have one of them(not 4 sale) and the other 3 are doing great in the peoples tanks who got them! Good luck and please keep us updated on how these guys do?
Scott T
I have had great luck lately with copperband b-flys,I have had 2 or 3 that I move tank to tank and are aptasia mowers. The cool thing is that they all are eating mysis like pigs once the aptasia are gone.In the past I have had a 50% or less sucess rate with copperbands,even to a point that I would not order them anymore because of there not so great survival records.About 3 months ago one of my trusted wholesalers said he was getting some really healthy ones so I ordered 4 of them and I still have one of them(not 4 sale) and the other 3 are doing great in the peoples tanks who got them! Good luck and please keep us updated on how these guys do?
Scott T
Reef Happy
New member
I was just talking to Mark at Blue Zoos and he says they have plenty of the butterfly fish in stock. They are eating prepared food. Also he said this File fish is more recommended for the smaller tanks of 40 gal or more to eat aptasia. Or for shallow frag tanks. They seem to recommend this fish very highly. They are priced at 11.97 for the tiny, 14.97 for the small and 29.95 for the med.
I was told that both is file fish and butterfly are good for eating mysis or prepared food after they have eaten the aptasia. And that they have no reported problems with them picking at lps anymore than the copperband. They are the best they said for not nipping at coral as other butterfly fish. Anyone is welcome to call and speak to Mark if any questions. I will post some info on the file fish later on.
As far as shipping. It is free after $140.00 I have requested a group buy spread sheet. This is an advantage as far as the Dead on arrival or Dead After Arrival (DAA) items within the 7-Day allowance. Instead of reporting dead fish within the 7 days and only being able to recieve the credit we would recieve a refund. Which is much better. Also with orders over $500 there are additional discounts. From what I understand the discount comes from non sale items.
So see if there is anything else anyone wants to order. bluezooaquatics.com
I was told that both is file fish and butterfly are good for eating mysis or prepared food after they have eaten the aptasia. And that they have no reported problems with them picking at lps anymore than the copperband. They are the best they said for not nipping at coral as other butterfly fish. Anyone is welcome to call and speak to Mark if any questions. I will post some info on the file fish later on.
As far as shipping. It is free after $140.00 I have requested a group buy spread sheet. This is an advantage as far as the Dead on arrival or Dead After Arrival (DAA) items within the 7-Day allowance. Instead of reporting dead fish within the 7 days and only being able to recieve the credit we would recieve a refund. Which is much better. Also with orders over $500 there are additional discounts. From what I understand the discount comes from non sale items.
So see if there is anything else anyone wants to order. bluezooaquatics.com
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