Among the “reasonably solid” species is the pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis)—a
generally hardy
, adaptable, not-too-difficult-to-feed, and beautiful chaetodontid from the Indo-Pacific.
What is the hardiest butterfly fish?
The
Auriga Butterflyfish, also known as the Threadfin Butterflyfish
, is one of the more popular and readily available butterflyfish. Generally a hardy species, in the wild it is found on inner and outer reef slopes. As with many fish, the Threadfin Butterfly’s color and markings can vary with the region of origin.
What is the lifespan of a butterfly fish?
Due to climate changes and ocean pollution in the last couple of decades, the number of butterflyfish has decreased drastically. How long do butterflyfish live? The average lifespan of a butterfly- fish in the wild is
seven years
..
Can you keep multiple butterfly fish together?
The more territorial fish are usually fine in pairs or small groups of the same species, but
mixing them with other Butterflyfish should generally be avoided
. Ideal tank-makes for Butterflyfish include Clownfish, Damsels, Gobies, Hogfish, Parrotfish, and Tangs.
Can butterfly fish live with clownfish?
A lot of fish can live with Clownfish
! Some suitable tankmates can be Mandarin Dragonet, Dartfish, Red Coris Wrasse, Yellow Tang, Basslets, Chromis Damselfish, Pygmy Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Pseudochromis, Blenny, Banggai Cardinalfish, etc.
What can live with a butterfly fish?
The temperature should be ideally set to 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The butterfly fish can be fed on a standard diet of tropical fish food and flakes with a mixture of plants and meat. Tank mates can include
gobies, parrotfish, and clownfish
, but some species may be more territorial than others.
Do butterfly fish eat coral?
butterflyfishes often prey on soft corals and gorgonians
and as such are a significant threat to place in a reef aquarium. Many aquarists have reported success with keeping these fish with small polyp stony corals such as Acropora and Montipora, but large polyp stony corals may be picked on.
Are copper banded butterfly reef safe?
Copperband butterflyfish can grow to 8 inches (20 cm) but in a home aquarium are usually half that size. They do well at a normal reef temperature range of 75 to 84 °F (24 to 29 °C), with a tank size of at least 75 gallons and plenty of live rock to graze on.
This species can be considered reef safe
.
Are pyramid butterflyfish reef safe?
The pyramid butterfly fish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker 1857) is highly sought after in the marine aquarium trade as is
it the only known butterfly that is reef safe
. In the wild, this species is naturally found in large shoals feeding on zooplankton and copepods.
Can butterfly fish live together?
The specific specie of the butterflyfish determines what kind of tank mate best goes with them. Generally,
the fish has no problem living with other breeds or species provided that the tank is large enough
. Some fish however can be quite territorial and will attack others if they encroach into their zone.
How much does a butterfly fish cost?
A butterflyfish typically costs
between $20 and $60
. While this price range is typical for many butterflyfish, they can vary in cost. Butterflyfish are priced according to their species and cost anywhere up to $4,000, depending on their unique characteristics and rarity.
How do butterfly fish swim?
Like the parrotfish and wrasses, butterfly fish swim by
synchronous rowing strokes of the pectoral fins
, while the tail fin is used as a rudder for direction and balance. They are capable of very rapid movement and rely largely on their agility to avoid capture from other larger species.
Will butterfly fish eat anemone?
Though some species are omnivorous that feed on algae growing on the reefs. The animals that the butterflyfish eat in the wild are crustaceans like shrimps, prawns, crabs, other small-sized crustaceans, delicate and hard corals, and
sea anemones
, phylum cnidarian, and a lot of invertebrate species.
How long can butterfly fish go without food?
As far as vacation feeding is concerned, it’s generally safe to assume that most healthy (note the emphasis) fish will be fine for
a few days to a week or so
without eating depending on the species. Beyond that, you’ll definitely want to make some accommodation to have the fish fed—even if just every two or three days.
Do butterfly fish and tangs get along?
It is not definite that the Yellow Tang will harass your butterfly but it is a good chance. My Purple Tang harassed my Longnose Butterflyfish for about a week before he gave up and
they both get along fine now
. So, you might be able to mix a butterflyfish with the tang but I would not put a Copperband in though.
What do you feed butterfly fish?
Unless otherwise noted in individual species profiles, most all Butterflyfishes can be fed a varied diet of
vitamin-enriched marine fish, crustacean, and mollusk flesh, mysid shrimp, and any appropriate frozen preparations suitable for carnivores
.
Can you have 3 clownfish in a tank?
3 clownfish of the same species (sometimes more)
may work out as long as they are juveniles and introduced together
. Your issue would be with the Sebae, which would eventually mature into a female (would not remain a juvenile) because there is no other similar mature clownfish.
Do clownfish and bettas get along?
Much like other species of the Pleco family,
Clown Plecos make good tank mates for Bettas and other similar fish
. They feed mostly on algae and uneaten food, which helps keep your tank clean.
How big does a butterfly fish get?
Butterflyfish mostly range from
12 to 22 cm (4.7 to 8.7 in) in length
. The largest species, the lined butterflyfish and the saddle butterflyfish, C. ephippium, grow to 30 cm (12 in).
How often do butterfly fish eat?
Dietary requirements usually vary based on the type of butterflyfish. Some of them will only eat plants by accident while consuming other types of food. The species eats
3 times a day
in the wild if it has the opportunity. Although they are omnivores with a diverse diet, they avoid a lot of things.
How often should I feed my butterfly fish?
Typical feeding regimen for a Copperbanded Butterflyfish
Aim to undertake
multiple feeding daily
. If you have a juvenile Copperband, offer food 4 times per day; more mature fish need only be fed twice per day. Avoid underfeeding as much as possible.
Will butterfly fish eat zoas?
Butterflys are not safe with zoas
and it has been documented as such.
What size tank do I need for 2 clownfish?
What Size Aquarium Do They Need? Clownfish need at least a 20-gallon tank, so they have enough room to both hide and explore. You will need a larger tank if you want to keep an Anemone too. For each additional Clownfish allow a further
10 gallons
.
Do butterfly fish eat clams?
In general, most copperband butterflyfish will not attack the corals in your tank–but
they do tend to enjoy eating clams
, tube worms, and mollusks, and they may pick at large fleshy coral polyps, so technically, they are not really reef safe, but there are a lot of reports of people keeping them safely with their …
What does a queen angelfish look like?
Queen Angelfish. This
vibrant oval-shaped reef fish has trailing dorsal and anal fins and a triangular tail
. It is blue-green with blue and yellow highlights on its fins, and can be differentiated from the similar blue angelfish by the prominent dark ringed ‘crown’ spot on its forehead.
What eats Aiptasia in reef tank?
Butterflyfish:
Auriga, raccoon, Klein’s, longnose, teardrop and copperband
are some species known to eat aiptasia and corals. Filefish: The bristletail filefish is the only filefish known to eat aiptasia. It is not reef-safe.
Is Emperor Angelfish reef safe?
And lastly, Emperor angelfish
aren’t reef-safe
. They’ll dine out on all your fleshy LPS corals like Trachyphyllia, Symphyllia, and Acanthophyllia.
