FOWLR Tank

[moneymark]

Hello all, I have a 75 gallon tank up and running with nothing in it yet, except for sand and live rock. I'm thinking about adding a couple(2-3) of butterfly's, different types of course, a picasso trigger, and a snowflake eel. My question is "Will all these fish get along?"

[LisaD]

the trigger and eel will be fine together, not sure about the butterflies, will depend on which species.

I don't have a lot of experience with butterflies. I'd research well for the most hardy, that stay relatively small and don't need corals to survive. Scott Michaels book "Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes" is a great reference.

if it were me, I'd keep a dwarf angel, like a coral beauty, with the trigger and eel. maybe also a sharpnose puffer or a smaller hawkfish. I'd get a smaller sized eel and close to adult sized fish, add all your fish first. the size discrepancy is to reduce the chances of your fish being eaten. keep the eel well fed, always feed from a stick, never offer live, and never feed fish flesh.

make sure your tank is well covered. I've had two snowflake eels, and both escaped my (covered) tanks and ended up dried up on the floor. I have had other eels that never even tried to get out. snowflakes are renowned for this.

[discusone]

Bflys can be easily intimidated by active feeders,like triggers and eels.They are among the more skittish marine fish.

They tend not to compete for food in an active aggressive tank,but hang back,grabbing pieces as they can.It can become difficult to fed them adequately.

If you do a Bfly,introduce it first( with the appropriate QT measures taken).then,after a month or so,and with the Bfly feeding VERY well,you may be able to introduce the trigger/eel.

But, you may find that the Bfly will eventually become less and less comfortable with the tankmates you want,and slowly begin to waste away.

[saltyguy51]

There arent many butterflies that get to large, but one on my list is a Hawaian Saddleback which can get 8" in a tank. Sometime soon I would like to get a pair, but as a norm they (butterflies) arent known for keeping their own in a aggressive tank.

[moneymark]

Thanx guys for the advice.

[WuHT]

I have a heniochus, that competes with an asfur angel, bluethroat trigger, foxface for food very competitively.

I had a threadfin butterfly that also didnt' mind the larger fish when it came to food time.

Of course those 2 are hardy by butterfly standards

[nanoman27]

triggers are nasty eaters they will go at other fish when feeding if they come over and take there for add the picasso trigger last so the others can get acquainted