butterflies in reefs - Page 11

SDguy · 07/16/2011, 12:14 AM

I agree with the yellow longnose butterfly option. They have so much to offer: stunning yellow color, eyespot, classic reef fish shape, including a beautiful dorsal fin, hardy, great eaters, and practically speaking one of the most reef safe butterflies.

LemonLemon · 07/16/2011, 12:29 AM

ok peter, wanna take a guess what hybrid butterflyfish this is?

a picture before it's full write up is published.

it appeared in a japanese LFS

SDguy · 07/16/2011, 12:33 AM

Oooo, that's a tough one. Collare and Lunula?

LemonLemon · 07/16/2011, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

Oooo, that's a tough one. Collare and Lunula?

bingo!

you're good!

SDguy · 07/16/2011, 12:50 AM

I look forward to reading the writeup

Charley Diesing · 07/19/2011, 10:07 PM

Hey what do you guys think about a long nose butterflyfish in a 40G Breeder, Dimensions 36Lx18Wx16H... I really got my heart set on either him or a CBB. Tell me what you guys think.

Thanks a lot,

Charley

small alien · 07/20/2011, 08:24 AM

Live aquaria says 70 gallons min for the yellow long nose. 50 for the CCB. What other fish are in the tank?

Charley Diesing · 07/20/2011, 09:01 AM

Non at the moment. I've bought almost all the equipment gotta finish the stand and do the plumbing this week.

This is after the aquarium is well established by the way. And I won't mind trading him in after I've had him for a little while once he gets too big.

Also according to this calculator. A 40 Gallon Breeder is actually 45 gallons...

http://www.angelfish.net/tankvolcalc.php

Tri-Colour · 07/20/2011, 01:52 PM

I've been watching this thread for a while now and you've all really given me the butterfly bug!

I currently have a 6x2x2 sps reef (not many atm mind you) and am thinking of adding a single Chaetodon ephippium and then possibly a pair/small group of Chaetodon semilarvatus. Has there been any random sucess storys with these two species in reefs? And is there any sps they're less likely to touch?

Dr Colliebreath · 07/20/2011, 09:22 PM

1 for 2. I just put my falcula and saddleback into my DT from 6 weeks of quarantine. It took the falcula about 20 minutes to go after the corals. I have 5 soft corals and he went after 3, including the green star polyps and the toadstool green polyps. The saddleback ignored them so far. I fed both heavily before the transfer from QT to DT but I guess it wasn't enough.

I will see whether it continues to be a problem tomorrow, but I guess I have no reason to expect it to get better. With my luck, the falcula will teach the saddleback to eat the corals also.

cougaran · 07/21/2011, 09:46 AM

My threadfin ate my hammer alot less when I threw a chunk of scallop in the tank. Guess corals aren't quite as tasty. In the end I had to remove the coral....

Dr Colliebreath · 07/21/2011, 10:47 AM

I was considering putting a clam in to see if that would keep it from eating corals but the scallop is better as it won't foul the water. Plus, I can put it in a clip with a mesh holder. Left some nori in a clip but I doubt that will interest the fish.

sabodish · 07/22/2011, 05:46 PM

i just added a small 2" klein to my reef this evening..i have mostly lps and softies at the moment. any of you guys have experience with kleins?? im excited to see how this works out, just need to stop my powder brown from beating the hell out of it...

mosuhu · 07/23/2011, 12:01 PM

Hi,

I have just asked the question whether anyone has kept a Collare (pakistan) butterfly with any suscess in sps reef tank with not much response. I thought this would be a good place to ask....so, has anyone? I really like this fish!

Mo

SDguy · 07/23/2011, 06:55 PM

Mine ate every mushroom in my FO. No experience with one in a full reef.

PaulFMcG · 07/27/2011, 03:43 PM

Hello,
I wanted to get some opinions here since you are all on the topic...
I recently purchased a 4 Eye Butterfly Fish and then shortly after purchased a Blue Striped Mushroom...
I was told it should be fine, but he keeps picking at the Mushroom...
Any idea if I am fine to let it be or should I take out the fish???
I plan on adding more corals and mushrooms, but I dont want him eating them all...
Pics Below of the Fish
Thaxn

SDguy · 07/27/2011, 03:54 PM

That's a Bennett's buttefly, not a foureye buttefly. It's a coral polyp eater. I'm not sure they do very well in captivity long term. Is it eating any food you provide?

PaulFMcG · 07/27/2011, 03:58 PM

Ohhhhh...My Mistake...My LFS didnt know what it was so I tried to do a search and that made sense to be the 4 Eye...LOL
Anyway...it does eat the Brine and Mysis that I feed...BUT I dont want it eating a $40 Mushroom that I shuld put in the tank...Not to Mention my Polyps (which I NOW know why they are not fully extended since his arrival)
Guess I need to find a way to trap it and get rid of it...
He looks cool too =(

SDguy · 07/27/2011, 03:59 PM

Shame you don't have a FO for him. It's nice to find one that eats

LemonLemon · 07/28/2011, 07:10 AM

i recently acquired a marginalis again. there were many muelleri too but i did not get those.

the marginalis this time is proving rather picky compared to my old one. it's not eating enough and it's pretty skinny. we'll see how it goes. it prefers bigger food pieces.

bamf25 · 07/28/2011, 07:28 AM

Not so easy question, but....

If you could reccomend one relatively reef safe butterfly for a new to salt water person that would be going in a 4 month old 120g tank. Ok, just got a few new fish so would be 5 to 6 month old tank once it went in assuming it was my next purchase.

SDguy · 07/28/2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LemonLemon

i recently acquired a marginalis again. there were many muelleri too but i did not get those.

the marginalis this time is proving rather picky compared to my old one. it's not eating enough and it's pretty skinny. we'll see how it goes. it prefers bigger food pieces.

Glad to hear you are trying another one, though it sounds like you may have some odds stacked against you already. You can read about my own troubles in my marginalis thread.

As for the food, I've experienced that before. The fish sees and goes for the largest pieces of food, even though smaller bite sized ones are available. It can't yet rip the food apart on its own, and keeps trying, but eventually ends up eating nothing

Try to only provide uniformly sized, smaller food items.

SDguy · 07/28/2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamf25

Not so easy question, but....

If you could reccomend one relatively reef safe butterfly for a new to salt water person that would be going in a 4 month old 120g tank. Ok, just got a few new fish so would be 5 to 6 month old tank once it went in assuming it was my next purchase.

Look into pyramid/zoster, or yellow longnose butterflies.

GvineReefer · 07/28/2011, 11:23 AM

Bamf25,

Agree with the longnose butterfly recommendation. Mine struggled to eat at first, but has come through and been a great fish so far. I have not seen him look twice at any of my corals and I have a full mixed reef covering all ends of the spectrum. My hippo tang nips more than anything I have now, surprising to me. I hope to add another butterfly once I upgrade to a larger tank.

Good luck

bamf25 · 07/29/2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

Look into pyramid/zoster, or yellow longnose butterflies.

does anyone have these in stock? The few online places I have looked are not available (at least for the pyramid or zoster). Beside live aquaria and blue zoo where are other good places to get fish?

07/16/2011, 12:14 AM	#251
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I agree with the yellow longnose butterfly option. They have so much to offer: stunning yellow color, eyespot, classic reef fish shape, including a beautiful dorsal fin, hardy, great eaters, and practically speaking one of the most reef safe butterflies. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/16/2011, 12:29 AM	#252
LemonLemon Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,072	ok peter, wanna take a guess what hybrid butterflyfish this is? a picture before it's full write up is published. it appeared in a japanese LFS __________________ Show me your teeth

07/16/2011, 12:33 AM	#253
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Oooo, that's a tough one. Collare and Lunula? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/16/2011, 12:50 AM	#255
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I look forward to reading the writeup __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/20/2011, 08:24 AM	#257
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	Live aquaria says 70 gallons min for the yellow long nose. 50 for the CCB. What other fish are in the tank? __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

07/19/2011, 10:07 PM	#256
Charley Diesing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,162	Hey what do you guys think about a long nose butterflyfish in a 40G Breeder, Dimensions 36Lx18Wx16H... I really got my heart set on either him or a CBB. Tell me what you guys think. Thanks a lot, Charley

07/20/2011, 09:01 AM	#258
Charley Diesing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,162	Non at the moment. I've bought almost all the equipment gotta finish the stand and do the plumbing this week. This is after the aquarium is well established by the way. And I won't mind trading him in after I've had him for a little while once he gets too big. Also according to this calculator. A 40 Gallon Breeder is actually 45 gallons... http://www.angelfish.net/tankvolcalc.php

07/20/2011, 01:52 PM	#259
Tri-Colour Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1	I've been watching this thread for a while now and you've all really given me the butterfly bug! I currently have a 6x2x2 sps reef (not many atm mind you) and am thinking of adding a single Chaetodon ephippium and then possibly a pair/small group of Chaetodon semilarvatus. Has there been any random sucess storys with these two species in reefs? And is there any sps they're less likely to touch?

07/20/2011, 09:22 PM	#260
Dr Colliebreath Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC Vicinity Posts: 1,813	1 for 2. I just put my falcula and saddleback into my DT from 6 weeks of quarantine. It took the falcula about 20 minutes to go after the corals. I have 5 soft corals and he went after 3, including the green star polyps and the toadstool green polyps. The saddleback ignored them so far. I fed both heavily before the transfer from QT to DT but I guess it wasn't enough. I will see whether it continues to be a problem tomorrow, but I guess I have no reason to expect it to get better. With my luck, the falcula will teach the saddleback to eat the corals also.

07/21/2011, 09:46 AM	#261
cougaran Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Western Mass Posts: 666	My threadfin ate my hammer alot less when I threw a chunk of scallop in the tank. Guess corals aren't quite as tasty. In the end I had to remove the coral.... __________________ Countless years exp SW & FW(in other words I've given up a few times over 30 years, but always come back for more punishment) Current Tank Info: 90 Gal w/ 20 Gal Refugium(setup since 2005), 38 & 29 QT. 300 Gal marineland setup in progress.

07/21/2011, 10:47 AM	#262
Dr Colliebreath Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC Vicinity Posts: 1,813	I was considering putting a clam in to see if that would keep it from eating corals but the scallop is better as it won't foul the water. Plus, I can put it in a clip with a mesh holder. Left some nori in a clip but I doubt that will interest the fish.

07/22/2011, 05:46 PM	#263
sabodish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holly Springs, NC Posts: 1,703	i just added a small 2" klein to my reef this evening..i have mostly lps and softies at the moment. any of you guys have experience with kleins?? im excited to see how this works out, just need to stop my powder brown from beating the hell out of it...

07/23/2011, 12:01 PM	#264
mosuhu Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK, london Posts: 57	Hi, I have just asked the question whether anyone has kept a Collare (pakistan) butterfly with any suscess in sps reef tank with not much response. I thought this would be a good place to ask....so, has anyone? I really like this fish! Mo

07/23/2011, 06:55 PM	#265
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Mine ate every mushroom in my FO. No experience with one in a full reef. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/27/2011, 03:43 PM	#266
PaulFMcG Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincoln, CA Posts: 51	Hello, I wanted to get some opinions here since you are all on the topic... I recently purchased a 4 Eye Butterfly Fish and then shortly after purchased a Blue Striped Mushroom... I was told it should be fine, but he keeps picking at the Mushroom... Any idea if I am fine to let it be or should I take out the fish??? I plan on adding more corals and mushrooms, but I dont want him eating them all... Pics Below of the Fish Thaxn

07/27/2011, 03:54 PM	#267
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	That's a Bennett's buttefly, not a foureye buttefly. It's a coral polyp eater. I'm not sure they do very well in captivity long term. Is it eating any food you provide? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/27/2011, 03:58 PM	#268
PaulFMcG Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincoln, CA Posts: 51	Ohhhhh...My Mistake...My LFS didnt know what it was so I tried to do a search and that made sense to be the 4 Eye...LOL Anyway...it does eat the Brine and Mysis that I feed...BUT I dont want it eating a $40 Mushroom that I shuld put in the tank...Not to Mention my Polyps (which I NOW know why they are not fully extended since his arrival) Guess I need to find a way to trap it and get rid of it... He looks cool too =(

07/27/2011, 03:59 PM	#269
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Shame you don't have a FO for him. It's nice to find one that eats __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/28/2011, 07:10 AM	#270
LemonLemon Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,072	i recently acquired a marginalis again. there were many muelleri too but i did not get those. the marginalis this time is proving rather picky compared to my old one. it's not eating enough and it's pretty skinny. we'll see how it goes. it prefers bigger food pieces. __________________ Show me your teeth

07/28/2011, 07:28 AM	#271
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	Not so easy question, but.... If you could reccomend one relatively reef safe butterfly for a new to salt water person that would be going in a 4 month old 120g tank. Ok, just got a few new fish so would be 5 to 6 month old tank once it went in assuming it was my next purchase.

07/28/2011, 11:23 AM	#274
GvineReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 175	Bamf25, Agree with the longnose butterfly recommendation. Mine struggled to eat at first, but has come through and been a great fish so far. I have not seen him look twice at any of my corals and I have a full mixed reef covering all ends of the spectrum. My hippo tang nips more than anything I have now, surprising to me. I hope to add another butterfly once I upgrade to a larger tank. Good luck __________________ GvineReefer Current Tank Info: 120-gal tank/sump from Planet Aquarium, 2xMP40W ES, Apex Lite, Reef Octopus XP2000SSS, NextReef SMR1 bio-pellet reactor, BRS carbon reactor, Mag7 for manifold, QuietOne 5000 return, Bubble Magus doser, 48" TEK 8-bulb T5's, DJ Power Switch

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