New chaetodon paucifasciatus!

[skraj011]

I purchased a red-back butterflyfish (c. paucifasciatus) yesterday from my local LFS. She/he looks to be in very good health. I have her in QT right now and will eventually put her in either my 125 fowlr or my 90 fowlr.

Are these guys timid? I have a c. xanthocephalus (yellow-headed butterfly) in my 125 with a female scribbled angel and several wrasses (halichoeres and fairies). Any reason to think it would have trouble in there?

the other option is my 90 which has a somewhat aggressive rhodontus wrasse, a flameback angel, a small acanthurus nigricans (gold-rimmed tang), and blue-spot puffer.

Aside from compatability, any other information regarding this fish is welcomed.

thanks.

[SDguy]

Well that's a random LFS pickup! Where do you live? Congrats! Can't wait for pics!

Can't help on the questions though, since I've enver kept either butterfly.

[reeferstace]

I am sooooooo jealous. These fish are stunning. I want. :D

[euod]

Lucky dog. Congrats. Pics please.

[SDguy]

I'm guessing it wasn't a paucifasciatus? Bummer.... I was so hoping some came into the States :(

[LemonLemon]

paucifasciatus?

if it really is, grats! they've gotten so rare in the recent years.

i had 2 but they both died.

[skraj011]

it was certainly a paucifasciatus. there isn't anything else it could have been.

i was devastated when it died in qt.

[SDguy]

A fish that no one has seen in the states for years, and not a single picture????? :( :(

Any idea what wholesaler the LFS got it from?

[NexDog]

Surely it was just a standard Pearlscale Butterfly (Chaetodon xanthurus) - similar to the untrained eye.

Example:

http://www.vessel-1997.com/fish%20fb/fb10.jpg

(image will probably change within a few months as Vessel reuse image names)

[SDguy]

I was thinking it could have been a mertensii from the IO...darker anterior color, and more "chevroned" than a standard pearlscale.

[skraj011]

nope. It was a paucifasciatus. No doubt.

[SDguy]

nope. It was a paucifasciatus. No doubt.

Unfortunately, without any info and pics, I have nothing to tell my friends at the LA wholesalers and other contacts to try and get them :(

[ShellsSD]

Can you please tell us the LFS name. I would be very interested in contacting them to see if they have any more coming into their store


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[skraj011]

I bought him at Tropic Isle in framingham, MA. They had two which were $129, but then on special for $99/each. There was only the one left when I got there.

It was very pretty and looked completely healthy. If you know about butterflyfish, you can't mistake this one for any other in this complex.

I have no idea which wholesalers they buy from. I've been there 2-3 times since, but haven't seen one again.

[skraj011]

Surely it was just a standard Pearlscale Butterfly (Chaetodon xanthurus) - similar to the untrained eye.

Example:

http://www.vessel-1997.com/fish%20fb/fb10.jpg

(image will probably change within a few months as Vessel reuse image names)

with all due respect, even an untrained eye can tell the difference between these two species.

I find everyone's incredulity hilarious.

[Daniel Reef]

with all due respect, even an untrained eye can tell the difference between these two species.

I find everyone's incredulity hilarious.

I don't know about butterflyfish but I am surprised that individuals are saying it is another fish. Perhaps if you post a pic, you can remove all doubt.

[reefjunkie42]

i think the fish in question died.

[SDguy]

I have friends at two of the biggest wholesalers in LA, and have personally spoken to Kevin at Liveaquaria about this species - no one has seen one here in the States for several years, so please forgive me if I sound incredulous. I'm just a little surprised, that's all :) Thanks very much for the info... I emailed the store to see if they had more information. And I just wanted to be sure on the ID before I go bugging people to find me one, in case it's a "false alarm" :D

[Daniel Reef]

i think the fish in question died.

I'm sorry to hear that if it's true. Why do you suspect that?

[SDguy]

I'm sorry to hear that if it's true. Why do you suspect that?


i was devastated when it died in qt.

[Daniel Reef]

Thanks, Peter. I missed that post.

[gobolts23]

Just saw this thread from years ago. Just picked this guy up today :-)

[Dmorty217]

Just saw this thread from years ago. Just picked this guy up today :-)

Nice snag, did you get it locally?

[gobolts23]

yes I did. :)

[Whiterabbitrage]

Nice!!! Best of luck with it. More pics soon please and walk us through your QT experience with it.

[SDguy]

Great fish. A favorite of mine for sure. Have one in QT but am unsure if he'll go into the DT.

[gobolts23]

I put a mussel in a half shell in his qt tank and he seems interested just hasn't started eating. Usually I would add him directly to a tank that I just grow macro algae and inverts but I have a red sea regal that I rescued a couple months ago.

[SDguy]

Mine ate Larry's fish frenzy on day 3.