Butterfly in my reef?

[Anonymous]

I was thinking about adding two more fish to my tank. I am kicking around a flame angel and/or hippo tang and/or butterfly. My concerns are the flame angel nipping at the clams/corals. I am worried about the same for the butterfly. My concern with the hippo is that he may fight with my kole tang(who needs no new stresses in his life).

Any luck mixing these?

Any other concerns?


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[Anonymous]

I don't really like hippo tangs. They are very typical and don't do squat for algae control. They are also pretty territorial as adults and can sometimes take a liking to corals.

There aren't many butterflies that don't nip corals, but a surefire bet is the pyramid butterfly, Hemitaurichthys polylepis:

They are really beautiful fish, harmless to corals and other fish, and will adapt reasonably well to aquarium life. They should take to prepared foods quite readily. The big prerequisites are that you have a lot of swimming space and no aggressive tangs or angels sharing a small tank with them.

 

[Anonymous]

I like the look of them they are a handsome fish. I understand that most of the fish in reef keeping can be unpredictable. I have a bi-color blenny that likes to taste my porite's polyps. I am also willing to try a flame angel with my clams. So, I know the risk and am willing to take the chance. Thanks for the suggestion, I will more than likely seek out that fish. I am also looking at a longnose, even though I know the risk to nibble is high.

Thanks

 

[Mike612]

I second the Pyramid Butterfly. I had great success with it. It didn't touch a single coral or invertebrate in the tank and it ate frozen and flake foods from day 1. It is an extremely peaceful fish too and won't bother established fish or newcomers.

 

[Anonymous]

So my question, is how come a butterfly fish? I thought the main reason to get them was to deal with aiptasia, but if they're not going to touch anything....

 

[eric.m.s]

I thought the main reason to get them was to deal with aiptasia, but if they're not going to touch anything....

Never mind that some of them are beautiful

 

[Anonymous]

Well yeah there are a lot of beautiful fish that are out there, however I've normally seen them as a "too small of a tank" "too much risk towards my corals" type of fish, regardless of how nice they look

 

[jlneng]

I have a copper banded butterflyfish in my tank for about a year. It is the coolest fish in my tank. I also have a purple tang, desjardini sailfish tank, flame angel, blue star leopard wrass, and a couple of firefish. None of the above bother my corals and all get along well enough. I put the butterflyfish in to help combat aiptasia. I also added some berghia nudibranch. Between the two, what was once a problem is now a thing of the past. I have a large rock flower anemone in the tank but nothing bothers it. I see the berghia every once in awhile so I know they are still alive as well. 180g reef...

 

[Anonymous]

Between the two, what was once a problem is now a thing of the past. ...

I see the berghia every once in awhile so I know they are still alive as well. 180g reef...

If you still see berghia it means you still have aiptasia

 

[jlneng]

I cannot spot any aiptasia in my tank although I am sure that there is some due to the continued presence of the berghia. My sump has alot of aiptasia. A self sustaining reaction I suppose.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, whatever makes you happy, if you can't see aiptasia and they aren't bugging corals, perfect. However I have heard of people who had no aiptasia get sudden outbreaks when their biological cure dies (i.e. peppermint shrimp, berghia, etc)

 

[Anonymous]

I do have some aiptasia anemones. A copperband would be very nice, but I am afraid that it will eat the corals.

I picked a butterfly because they are beautiful fish.