Chaetodon robustus

[SDguy]

Any experience with, or thoughts on this butterfly? I keep eyeing it on LADD :)

[michael_cb_125]

Peter- get it!

They had a few last year and I was very close to pulling the trigger on one. Go figure that they get one this year, and I have no tank for it....

I imagine most think its not very attractive, but I am a sucker for these types of fish. I simply love the profile of this fish.

~Michael

[michael_cb_125]

What temperature are you running your system at? This species tends to be found in relatively deep water.

~Michael

[SDguy]

Oh, is it a cooler water species?

While during the winter the tanks hover around 75/76F, It's not unheard of for them to hit 82F in the summer.

[michael_cb_125]

From all the research that I have done on this species I have found that it occurs from inshore shallows all the way to 70m+, so that said it could thrive in both warmer and cooler water. Kevin recommends 68-78 and typically states whether or not the fish does well in warmer systems.

~Michael

[Luiz Rocha]

It's a very nice fish, here is one I photographed in Sao Tome:

http://www.luizrocha.com/fish/C_robustus.jpg

As Michael mentions, I've seen it in a wide depth and temperature range, so it should be ok in any reef tank. The photo above was taken at about 10m depth and the water was 28C.

[michael_cb_125]

Thanks Luiz! Great photo!

I have read that this is one of the most common butterflies in its range, have you found this to be accurate?

~Michael

[michael_cb_125]

Peter- Here is another one of my favorite African Butterflies.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/Chaetodon-marleyi-double-dash-butterflyfish.jpg

~Michael

[SDguy]

Beautiful shot, Luiz!! It really shows off that lattice pattern. Ugh, so tempting...

Yes, during my research, I came across shots of that one, Michael. I real looker!

[michael_cb_125]

Peter- I am going to be very disappointed if you don't get it!

~Michael

[SDguy]

I didn't get it, but looks like maybe someone finally did? Come on, someone fess up!! :)

[SDguy]

Another one up for sale!

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=138908

[Luiz Rocha]

Not a bad price either...

[Daniel Reef]

Are you still thinking of getting it, Peter?

[Yurivd]

Peter- Here is another one of my favorite African Butterflies.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/Chaetodon-marleyi-double-dash-butterflyfish.jpg

~Michael

I have been thinking of getting one but there are much nicer butterfly's out there

[jjk_reef00]

I was eyeing this guy as well. If it was up last week I probably would have bought it but my qt is fully stocked...
Anyone successfully keeping this fish?

[SDguy]

Are you still thinking of getting it, Peter?

I don't think so. He looks a bit small to hang with my bruisers :)

[LemonLemon]

very nice.

michael, japan recently imported a few hoefleri butterflies, which is very similar looking but muchhh rarer than the robustus.

they also had brought in the marleyi in the past too, which is uber rare and also in the same complex.

[SDguy]

I hope we get to see pics of these robustus in their final homes! :)

[SDguy]

Well, my robustus will be here on Wednesday :D

[aandfsoccr04]

ohhhh you little rascal you! :dance:

I knew you could only hold off for so long. You and Copps I tell you what. You guys are something else haha

[nonimmigrant]

Peter, to make you drool a bit, we get C. meyeri, and C. hoefleri out here too. The former is pricey as hell and hoefleri I can get for about $150. Still cheaper than in the US.

[SDguy]

The meyeri doesn't really interest me :o . The VERY few success stories I've seen with those types of butterflies require time and dedication that I admittedly can'y keep up, long-term. Very neat about the hoefleri though... I've never seen one before.

[nonimmigrant]

The meyeri doesn't really interest me :o . The VERY few success stories I've seen with those types of butterflies require time and dedication that I admittedly can'y keep up, long-term. Very neat about the hoefleri though... I've never seen one before.

I'm tempted on the hoefleri, but not until I upgrade the tank. I'm afraid that the Roaps crew will be to much from a food competition perspective... I still cannot justify paying so much more for the second dorsal spot!

[SDguy]

I still cannot justify paying so much more for the second dorsal spot!

And the striped tail! :lol:

[SDguy]

Oh wow, this is a nice looking fish in person! The copper color is gorgeous (I can see it's going to be tough for me to photograph). Tiny pointed mouth... not what I was expecting.

[rssjsb]

No one likes a tease. ;)

[SDguy]

OK... please no photo curse, please no photo curse, please no photo curse....

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20pics%202011/IMG_0777-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20pics%202011/IMG_0782-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20pics%202011/IMG_0779-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20pics%202011/IMG_0773-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20pics%202011/IMG_0787-1.jpg

[scapes]

wow! that thing is gorgeous ;)

[rssjsb]

Beautiful! How's he eating?

[SDguy]

Well, that's a good question. He acts like he wants to eat, even comes to the surface when I come to the tank as if he is used to being fed from above. But he doesn't try eating anything I put in the tank... I finally broke down last night and tried some live blackworms, which of course he ate. I'm hoping he just needed to try something, to trigger a feeding response for other stuff. He tried and spit out some Hikari mysis. We'll see...

[SDguy]

All is well so far. Since we wasn't eating yet anyway, I decided to run the first round of prazi. Also began low dose cupramine.

[aquaph8]

He'll come around in time im sure. Really love that fish Peter, looking forward to hearing your experiences with him.

[SDguy]

I decided to cut the prazi down to 4 days instead of 5, because I really want to focus on getting him and the declivis eating. I did a water change, and added carbon. I won't resume cupramine until a. they are both eating and/or b. I actually see any spots.

[SDguy]

Both fish ate scallop last night, albeit small amounts. A bit of a relief since the robustus really hasn't eaten anything except a few blackworms since I received it.

[freewest61]

wow great looking fish! are they considered generally reef safe? I've always wanted to butterflies, but have always been afraid that they'd eat my coral.

[SDguy]

Just wanted to report on the butterflies. I did a round of prazi, just in case (no offense to LADD :) ) and took them off of that the other day. They ate a little bit of minced diver scallop yesterday, as I posted. Today I threw in a big helping of minced scallop, all stuck together, and the robustus ate the whole thing…. WHOLE!! I am very happy with both their appetites at this point.

I know nothing of their reef-safeness, other than that they come from mostly rocky areas, with little or no coral. I'd be willing to try it :D

[rssjsb]

Great!! It's such a relief when they finally get it and start eating, isn't it?

[SDguy]

Yes, it certainly is!!!

[lowfi]

Good job Peter, that's a nice looking butterfly. Did you pull the trigger on the coradion? Nice declivis...I'm jealous of those two.

[SDguy]

No, no coradion here... but Alexa got that gorgeous one from LADD, so hope to see updates on the fish here soon.

I've got other plans in the works though muahahahaha! (<--mad scientist laugh)

[LukFox]

No, no coradion here... but Alexa got that gorgeous one from LADD, so hope to see updates on the fish here soon.

I've got other plans in the works though muahahahaha! (<--mad scientist laugh)

You're killing me with all your talk of plans! :)

[SDguy]

Added the robustus to the DT today...got his *** kicked a bit by the blackback and the rainfordi, but seems fine now. Eating very well! I'll snap some pics tomorrow.

[aquaph8]

So you went fowlr with them?

[SDguy]

So you went fowlr with them?

Yes, I did. I actually tried him in the reef a week ago. The tangs HATED him! So weird, since they pay no attention to long nose butterflies.

[aquaph8]

I was hoping for a review of his reef safeness. I had to find a new home for my yellow tang when I got the muelleri, he just wouldn't get over it. Where did you put the Declivis?

[SDguy]

Oh, you missed my "I hate butterflies" thread LOL. The declivis died, along with the falcula, and the marginalis... all within a week or two.

[aquaph8]

Yeah I missed that, sorry to hear that.

[SDguy]

Happy to report the robustus is doing great. Eating like a champ (not pellets, yet, though) and not being bothered by any other fish.

[SDguy]

Some new pics. He's doing well, but still won't eat many types of foods...but the ones he will eat, he gorges on.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_0164-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_0161-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_0169-1.jpg

With some of the gang:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202012/IMG_0160-1.jpg