This is why butterflyfish suck...

[SDguy]

I wonder what that pimple is? Do you suspect Lymphocysts? I've seen those pop up every so often on my Blue Tang but they go away after larger water changes.

That's actually what I thought! But once I saw the blood, I knew it wasn't that.

 

[NarakuAulonocar]

I'm in the same boat and feel you pain. Tried 2 heniochus intermedius at different times. Both got ich like symptoms. They got those spots that just won't go away but still eat with gusto for months like nothing is wrong. Then one day, suddenly just stop eating and breath harder.

My last butterfly which was a long nose died 6 days in quarantine. It spat food out and had some gill issues I couldn't treat.

A marginalis that I painstakingly suffered through, dies after a year in my care...

A declivis dies in QT while the robustus is fine...

A falcula has some weird pimple on his face, and after a FW dip, his entire face hemorrhages and he dies...

:debi::debi::debi::debi::debi::debi::debi::debi::debi:

 

[randomfishguy85]

just last week my Chaetodon ephippium died. he had some sores on his side and one morning i woke up and he was dead. so frustrating.

 

[NarakuAulonocar]

Same. My raccoon butterfly won't eat a thing I give him. I don't want him to die.

Is he breathing fast? If so, treat for ich or flukes.

If not, you could try pieces of clams. Once he eats aggressively, you mush a piece of the food you want him to eat with clam pieces (with your finger) and feed him. After he eats that aggressively, let him starve one day. Then feed only the food you intend. I personally used NLS pellets.

This has worked for all of my butterflies that were picky!

 

[velvetelvis]

Sorry to hear you've been having so much trouble.

This might sound kind of out from left field, but since RCT is breeding dwarf angels again, what would you think about waiting and seeing if they offer P. multifasciata? They look a lot like butterflies, IMO, and might be hardier, being captive-bred and all...anyway, just a thought. I may just be projecting, since I've wanted one of these angels ever since seeing them. Feel free to dismiss me.

 

[pinnatus]

My 4-eye butterfly looks good, but doesn't eat anything I give him. It is eating something, maybe pods or something, but I want to get it to eat fish food. I'll try the clam thing, but I bet the other fish will get to it first.

 

[SDguy]

Sorry to hear you've been having so much trouble.

This might sound kind of out from left field, but since RCT is breeding dwarf angels again, what would you think about waiting and seeing if they offer P. multifasciata? They look a lot like butterflies, IMO, and might be hardier, being captive-bred and all...anyway, just a thought. I may just be projecting, since I've wanted one of these angels ever since seeing them. Feel free to dismiss me.

That's actually a great idea. I do love those fish...