Pyramid Butterfly

[Brandan]

Just wondering if anyone and good or bad opinions on the Pyramid Butterfly. I haven't seen to many of them in people tanks. I have heard they are super hardy, and are completely reef safe. Let me know if you have any personal experience with them.

Thanks
Brandan

[Fischer's Angel]

I wouldn't say they are completely safe. They would probably be OK with your Hard corals, but they might chow down on your softies. Ornamental shrimp would probably be safe. If you had to have a butterfly in your reef, the Pyramid would be one of your better choices, but not 100% safe.
IMO Pyramids are reasonably hardy, but need lots of swimming room and vigorous water movement, like tangs do. Not sure a Pyramid would do too well in the 100 gallon, probably OK as a younger fish, but may need to eventually move to larger quarters.

[snorvich]

The yellow pyramids are likely to be ok, the black ones are NOT likely to be ok.

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11678618#post11678618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
The yellow pyramids are likely to be ok, the black ones are NOT likely to be ok.

Do you say this through experience? I have spoken to a few people who have had actual experience with Zoster butterflies, and they say they are exactly the same as the pyramids- risky if underfed, but generally safe.

[Brandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11678618#post11678618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
The yellow pyramids are likely to be ok, the black ones are NOT likely to be ok.

Are you refering to thier face color?

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11679045#post11679045 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brandan
Are you refering to thier face color?

there is the typical yellow pyramid butterfly-Hemitaurichthys polylepis , and what is sometimes called the black pyramid (or Zoster butterfly) Hemitaurichthys zoster . Two different species, but I have discussed both with some fish authorities, and they insist both have near identical behaviors in the tank.

[Brandan]

So for soft coral, this is probably a no, but for a SPS dominant tank, they would be fine? Thank you Panda, Anyone else have any more info, or even a link to a good article on this subject?

[Brandan]

Bumb for the morning guys/gals.