Long-nosed Butterfly and Aiptasia

[UDB]

Has anyone had success with a long-nosed butterfly in eliminating aiptasia?

 

[LauraH]

While I've never used a butterflyfish for this purpose, the ones that are most known for eliminating Aiptasia are the Copperbanded (Chelmon rostratus) and the Racoon (Chaetodon lunula). I'm not sure if the Longnosed (Forcipiger flavissimus) will eat Aiptasia or not.

The Copperbanded will eat Aiptasia, but is usually difficult to feed once the Aiptasia has run out and will often starve themselves to death. Some people I know have had success getting them to feed using enriched live brine shrimp, but that takes time and patience to culture. Not an easy fish to keep, IMO.

The Racoon is a bit easier to keep, but is not safe in a reef tank as they will feed on corals and other inverts that you don't necessarily want them feeding on.

IMO, the best animal for eradicating Aiptasia in a reef aquarium is the Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemani). They will readily feed on
Aiptasia and are well behaved once the Aiptasia has run out. They will feed on other scraps they can scavenge. Of course, you don't want to put them into a tank containing fish that will feed on ornamental shrimps.

 

[Fishbreath]

I put a threadfin butterfly in my tank because I really liked the fish. But I noticed about 2 weeks later that every last one of the aiptasia I had was gone. No trace and none have returned in over a year. I never saw the butterfly eat an aiptasia but I'm certain she got 'em at night. No other explanation. She's still one of my favorite fish. Sorry, I don't know about the other butterfly's response to aiptasia. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

Laura,
Excellent advice. The only thing I can add is that the peppermint shrimp won't necessarily eat the really large Aiptasia.

BTW, it's "wurdemanni", not "wurdemani"....if you're going to go to the trouble of listing all the latin names you should spell them right!
Matt