Reef Butterfly

jelwyoming · 11/06/2006, 05:13 PM

After studing a bit on any possible butterfly fish that will work safely in a reef tank. Not many choices, if any. It seems that some thing that each of these have some chance; the yellow long nose butterfly, the copperband, the pyrimid butterfly and the Heniochus Butterfly. Can any one share their experiences with these in a reef tank. I have an established 120g that I was hoping to add one to. Right now, the Heniochus acuminatus seems to be the safest. Any comments with regards to that?

shawn1965 · 11/06/2006, 05:26 PM

Copperband work in my tank and ate all my aiptasia. When I purchased him I was looking for something to get rid of aiptasia, my LFS told me it hit or miss with this fish, they could pick at some of your corals. I took the chance and it paid off. Fish is still doing great 9 months later.

jelwyoming · 11/06/2006, 05:48 PM

I have various SPS and LPS plus a GBTA in my tank. I am wondering if it will/might both them...especially the anemone. It a big one though at about 12".

snorvich · 11/06/2006, 06:44 PM

CBB are hit and miss on Aiptasia (some do, some don't) and reef safeness. Meuller's butterfly is more likely to live long term but again is hit or miss on both Aiptasia and Reef Safeness. If they pick, it is more likely to be on LPS.

jelwyoming · 11/06/2006, 07:24 PM

Thanks, I will take a look at those some more. It looks as if there are no very good risks with butterflies, are there?

cthetoy · 11/06/2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jelwyoming
Right now, the Heniochus acuminatus seems to be the safest. Any comments with regards to that?

I think the Henichus Diphreutes is reef safe and the Heni A. is not reef safe

JamesJR · 11/06/2006, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cthetoy
I think the Henichus Diphreutes is reef safe and the Heni A. is not reef safe

you are correct.

sea student · 11/07/2006, 03:16 AM

Not only is H. diphreutes more reef safe, they also have a lot of personality and are very attractive. This place has both, so you can compare. There are some threads on RC about how to tell them apart as well. http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Brow...AButterflyfish

mike89t · 11/07/2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sea student
Not only is H. diphreutes more reef safe, they also have a lot of personality and are very attractive. This place has both, so you can compare. There are some threads on RC about how to tell them apart as well. http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Brow...AButterflyfish

I had a pair of those in my QT and they are somewhat reef safe. However I did notice that they went after the spaghetti worms and other life in my DSB. They actually ended up dying from Ich before I added them to my display tank.

jelwyoming · 11/07/2006, 02:36 PM

What are all of you basing your comments on the diphreutes being more reef safe on? Experiences? Others comments or professional observations?

jelwyoming · 11/07/2006, 02:40 PM

I read what vivid aquariums had to say about it. Sounds great. How have these worked for some of you?

sea student · 11/07/2006, 03:20 PM

Mine was from a pretty shady LFS and was sick when I got it. It never thrived and died about 8 mos later. I've seen much healthier specimens though...I just got a sickly one and in hindsight should have done some things differently w/ feeding. I will have one again...great personality and looks. Had FOWLR at the time, so can't comment about reef-safeness, have heard pretty good reports.

Enigma13 · 11/07/2006, 03:35 PM

I have a Yellow Pyramid Butterfly, Hemitauricthys polylepis, in my 144 mixed reef and he has never shown any signs of bothering softies, LPS, or SPS. Doesn't bother fish or invertebraes either. He is basically the perfect citizen in my tank and is probably the most sociable fish in the tank (always there to greet me when I get in front of the tank).

I chose this fish based on the description in S. Michael's Reef Fishes handbook and it was pretty much spot on. Seems to be totally reef safe and has proved to be hardy (I have had him for about 9 months now). He immediately took to both frozen foods and nori sheets. The nori sheets were a bit of a surprise, but he likes to partake with his tang and siganus bretheren. I would highly recommend this fish if you are looking for a reef safe butterfly.

jelwyoming · 11/07/2006, 10:44 PM

I was actually thinking of the Pyramid Butterfly. I have read some that they are very hard to acclimate. Sounds like you have a good one! Any pictures?
Any of you have pictures of your reef safe butterfly?

Enigma13 · 11/08/2006, 10:27 AM

I will try to post some pics when I get home tonight. I acclimated mine using the standard 15 minute temp. float, followed by an hour of drip acclimation. I adjust my drip rate so that the water volume doubles in an hour. He seemed to be fine.

triggerfish1976 · 11/08/2006, 10:32 AM

I currently have a Henichus Diphreutes in my reef tank and he occasionally picks at my Zoa's and also ate a small colony of clove polyps over the course of 3-4 months but he has not touched any of my LPS or other softies like xenia.
I had a Mitratus B'Fly in my old tank and he would pick at my SPS (no damage done) but killed an entire Scoly in less than 2 days and slowly decimated my zoa colonies over a few months.

jelwyoming · 11/08/2006, 01:42 PM

Thanks for those comments Triggerfish. I could handle that!
Enigma, let's see those picture!
Have any of you added the Diphreutes in sets, or just singly?

triggerfish1976 · 11/08/2006, 03:21 PM

I had a school of six of them in my 600 but one of them decided to go ape and slowly picked off the others so i am now down to one. I hear this is very unusual for these fish to do that so I chalk it up to a freak incident.

Lakeside518 · 11/08/2006, 04:05 PM

I would go with a CCB thats my vote

I've had absolutely no problems with mine in my reef setup. Great addition/personality & color. Took to frozen food instantly. Only downfall was they will go after tube worms "Feather Dusters"

JamesJR · 11/08/2006, 05:01 PM

I had one in a reef tank too with no problems, but they are very difficult to keep. Do your homework before you get one. I would be hesitant to recommend them. There are reef safe butterflies out there that are easier to keep.

maoiwowie · 11/08/2006, 06:07 PM

C. semilarvatus in my sps dominated reef.

Dakota Reef · 11/08/2006, 07:07 PM

I've had a yellow long-nosed butterfly in my mixed reef tank for several years now. I keep sps, zoanthids, ricordia, star polyps even some xenia with no problems from him. There are also a few green bubble tipped anemones in the tank.

He's never looked twice at any coral in the tank. As I recall there was a thread where someone claimed to have problems keeping a clam with their long-nose butterfly and any type of fanworm would probably be at risk.

Maoie Wowie - what a beautiful pair of semilarvatus!! Didn't realize they were reef safe. Can you share a little bit of info about how they've fared in your tank and any tips?

Enigma13 · 11/08/2006, 08:42 PM

Here is a pic of my pyramid butterfly as promised. Couldn't attach files as I wanted, but I hope this works.

SDguy · 11/08/2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maoiwowie
C. semilarvatus in my sps dominated reef.

DROOOOL!! Just so cool!

BTW, I recall someone on RC that put either one or a pair of zoster's B/F in his reef. Hopefully he will chime in

cthetoy · 11/08/2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maoiwowie
C. semilarvatus in my sps dominated reef.

Nice. I never knew they were reef safe. Do you have anything else besides SPS?

11/06/2006, 05:13 PM	#1
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	Reef Butterfly After studing a bit on any possible butterfly fish that will work safely in a reef tank. Not many choices, if any. It seems that some thing that each of these have some chance; the yellow long nose butterfly, the copperband, the pyrimid butterfly and the Heniochus Butterfly. Can any one share their experiences with these in a reef tank. I have an established 120g that I was hoping to add one to. Right now, the Heniochus acuminatus seems to be the safest. Any comments with regards to that? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/06/2006, 05:48 PM	#3
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	I have various SPS and LPS plus a GBTA in my tank. I am wondering if it will/might both them...especially the anemone. It a big one though at about 12". __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/06/2006, 06:44 PM	#4
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	CBB are hit and miss on Aiptasia (some do, some don't) and reef safeness. Meuller's butterfly is more likely to live long term but again is hit or miss on both Aiptasia and Reef Safeness. If they pick, it is more likely to be on LPS. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

11/06/2006, 07:24 PM	#5
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	Thanks, I will take a look at those some more. It looks as if there are no very good risks with butterflies, are there? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/07/2006, 02:36 PM	#10
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	What are all of you basing your comments on the diphreutes being more reef safe on? Experiences? Others comments or professional observations? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/06/2006, 05:26 PM	#2
shawn1965 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lakeland Posts: 50	Copperband work in my tank and ate all my aiptasia. When I purchased him I was looking for something to get rid of aiptasia, my LFS told me it hit or miss with this fish, they could pick at some of your corals. I took the chance and it paid off. Fish is still doing great 9 months later.

11/07/2006, 03:16 AM	#8
sea student Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 297	Not only is H. diphreutes more reef safe, they also have a lot of personality and are very attractive. This place has both, so you can compare. There are some threads on RC about how to tell them apart as well. http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Brow...AButterflyfish

11/07/2006, 02:40 PM	#11
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	I read what vivid aquariums had to say about it. Sounds great. How have these worked for some of you? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/07/2006, 03:20 PM	#12
sea student Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 297	Mine was from a pretty shady LFS and was sick when I got it. It never thrived and died about 8 mos later. I've seen much healthier specimens though...I just got a sickly one and in hindsight should have done some things differently w/ feeding. I will have one again...great personality and looks. Had FOWLR at the time, so can't comment about reef-safeness, have heard pretty good reports.

11/07/2006, 03:35 PM	#13
Enigma13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 19	I have a Yellow Pyramid Butterfly, Hemitauricthys polylepis, in my 144 mixed reef and he has never shown any signs of bothering softies, LPS, or SPS. Doesn't bother fish or invertebraes either. He is basically the perfect citizen in my tank and is probably the most sociable fish in the tank (always there to greet me when I get in front of the tank). I chose this fish based on the description in S. Michael's Reef Fishes handbook and it was pretty much spot on. Seems to be totally reef safe and has proved to be hardy (I have had him for about 9 months now). He immediately took to both frozen foods and nori sheets. The nori sheets were a bit of a surprise, but he likes to partake with his tang and siganus bretheren. I would highly recommend this fish if you are looking for a reef safe butterfly.

11/07/2006, 10:44 PM	#14
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	I was actually thinking of the Pyramid Butterfly. I have read some that they are very hard to acclimate. Sounds like you have a good one! Any pictures? Any of you have pictures of your reef safe butterfly? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/08/2006, 10:27 AM	#15
Enigma13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 19	I will try to post some pics when I get home tonight. I acclimated mine using the standard 15 minute temp. float, followed by an hour of drip acclimation. I adjust my drip rate so that the water volume doubles in an hour. He seemed to be fine.

11/08/2006, 10:32 AM	#16
triggerfish1976 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Land of Smiles Posts: 2,980	I currently have a Henichus Diphreutes in my reef tank and he occasionally picks at my Zoa's and also ate a small colony of clove polyps over the course of 3-4 months but he has not touched any of my LPS or other softies like xenia. I had a Mitratus B'Fly in my old tank and he would pick at my SPS (no damage done) but killed an entire Scoly in less than 2 days and slowly decimated my zoa colonies over a few months.

11/08/2006, 01:42 PM	#17
jelwyoming JELWYOMING Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NE Wyoming Posts: 1,294	Thanks for those comments Triggerfish. I could handle that! Enigma, let's see those picture! Have any of you added the Diphreutes in sets, or just singly? __________________ JEL Current Tank Info: 150g tall mixed reef, 100g FOLR

11/08/2006, 03:21 PM	#18
triggerfish1976 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Land of Smiles Posts: 2,980	I had a school of six of them in my 600 but one of them decided to go ape and slowly picked off the others so i am now down to one. I hear this is very unusual for these fish to do that so I chalk it up to a freak incident.

11/08/2006, 04:05 PM	#19
Lakeside518 Clownfish Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Clifton Park Posts: 1,362	I would go with a CCB thats my vote I've had absolutely no problems with mine in my reef setup. Great addition/personality & color. Took to frozen food instantly. Only downfall was they will go after tube worms "Feather Dusters" __________________ Zim Current Tank Info: 65 gal, LED lighting, Reef octopus 2000 HOB skimmer, Eheim G160 canister,Tunze nano 6055 w/ controller

11/08/2006, 05:01 PM	#20
JamesJR Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,733	I had one in a reef tank too with no problems, but they are very difficult to keep. Do your homework before you get one. I would be hesitant to recommend them. There are reef safe butterflies out there that are easier to keep. __________________ Just when I thought you couldn't be any dumber you go and do something like this....And totally redeem yourself! Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

11/08/2006, 06:07 PM	#21
maoiwowie Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 621	C. semilarvatus in my sps dominated reef.

11/08/2006, 07:07 PM	#22
Dakota Reef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Dakota Posts: 222	I've had a yellow long-nosed butterfly in my mixed reef tank for several years now. I keep sps, zoanthids, ricordia, star polyps even some xenia with no problems from him. There are also a few green bubble tipped anemones in the tank. He's never looked twice at any coral in the tank. As I recall there was a thread where someone claimed to have problems keeping a clam with their long-nose butterfly and any type of fanworm would probably be at risk. Maoie Wowie - what a beautiful pair of semilarvatus!! Didn't realize they were reef safe. Can you share a little bit of info about how they've fared in your tank and any tips? __________________ - Phil - 270 gallon mixed reef - 54 x 48 x 24 Blonde Naso, Potters Angel, Majestic Angel, Regal Angel, Long Nose Butterfly, Copperband Butterfly, Starry Blenny, Pink Streaked Wrasse, Royal Gramm

11/08/2006, 08:42 PM	#23
Enigma13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 19	Here is a pic of my pyramid butterfly as promised. Couldn't attach files as I wanted, but I hope this works.