Butterfly Choices

[Sealab2021]

So I've got 5 butterflies I'm looking at for my in-progress 40g long(36w x 15tall x 16deep),
and I've read all the generic info online I can find, so I'm looking for actual, hands-on advice/experience

In order of My preference(obviously not hardiness)

Pakistan(i) Butterflyfish
Black Back Butterflyfish
Copperband Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish

Comments?
& Do any of them eat mushroom corals?
the only other inhabitants will be a pair of 2.5" percs and a little goby or 2

 

[Ray Pollett]

So I've got 5 butterflies I'm looking at for my in-progress 40g long(36w x 15tall x 16deep),
and I've read all the generic info online I can find, so I'm looking for actual, hands-on advice/experience

In order of My preference(obviously not hardiness)

Pakistan(i) Butterflyfish - Do not know this one Can you supply a scientific name

Black Back Butterflyfish - Can be kept in the smallest tank of those you list; but even a 40 may be too small. Is unsafe with almost all corals.

Copperband Butterflyfish - Does best in well established tank. Has a so-so sucess rate. Needs abot 70 gallons min. May nip at corals but rarely much damage. Does eat Aiptasia (glass anemones)and polychaete worms.

Raccoon Butterflyfish - Will eat everything and anything. Loves to destroy most corals, and anemones. Needs about a 75 gallon tank atleast.

Saddleback Butterflyfish - Totally unsuited for anything less than a 100 gallon that is 6 feet long. Will nip at a lot of inverts, especially soft corals if talking about Chaetodon ephippium. if C. falcula than even more destructive as they grow but can do ok in a smaller tank(80).

Comments?
& Do any of them eat mushroom corals? YES
the only other inhabitants will be a pair of 2.5" percs and a little goby or 2

Ray

 

[Sealab2021]

Sorry, also called "Redtail butterflyfish" but it's:
Chaetodon collare

Also the similar "Mailed butterflyfish":

Chaetodon reticulatus

 

[Ray Pollett]

Sorry, also called "Redtail butterflyfish" but it's:
Chaetodon collare - Not the easiest to acclimate - Needs a 55 gallon tank - Eats mostly stonies but will nip at soft corals. Friends have told me they had best success in tanks that had a lot of algae to eat.

Also the similar "Mailed butterflyfish":

Chaetodon reticulatus - Have not been able to talk to anyone who has tried this one. They are considered very difficult to keep as their diet is most coral polyps and they do not seem to want to change it from the literature.

Ray

 

[Sealab2021]

thanks a bunch

 

[Crows Ridge]

When my new FOWLR is done, I want a school of Pearlscale Butterflies. Well, I have to research them yet, but for appearances, I want a school of them.

Good luck, Chris

 

[Ray Pollett]

When my new FOWLR is done, I want a school of Pearlscale Butterflies. Well, I have to research them yet, but for appearances, I want a school of them.

Good luck, Chris

In tanks this one is known to fight and only one is reccomended. The best one I know of for FOWLR tanks to have more than one is the Racoon butterfly. You need a Large tank!

Ray

 

[ronin253]

I've had my copperband now for a little over a week and he is doing great. He was a bit shy first few days but now he is doing great He was only eating a few fans that were in the tank at first but now he is eating mysis and brine. His tank mates are two yellowtailed damsels, a yellow damsel and a spotted tiger gobie. He gets along just fine with all of them. I was worried the damsels would pick on him but he is just big enough that they pretty much leave him alone
The copperband has always been one of my favorites and the fact that they will help maintain the aiptasia is an added bonus!

Good luck with your selection

Todd

 

[osterman]

Is there any possibility that a pair of copperbands could be kept in a 240?

 

[Ray Pollett]

Is there any possibility that a pair of copperbands could be kept in a 240?

I've never tried to keep two in one tank. I've been told that you can keep a male-female pair; but two of the same sex will fight.

Ray

 

[The Apprentice]

I love the picture of your Copperband Todd i have a question to all on the forum i have a small copperband in my 150 tank and she seems to have a small black spot on the outter tip of her tail has anyone hear of this?? if i new i could attach a picture have never done it to a thread..Jeff

 

[DisturbedReefer]

Jeff
Just go down to the Attach file: area under the reply section when you are making a reply and search for your picture on your hard drive.

 

[The Apprentice]

thanks Todd i will try this tonight on some picts of my tank i just made a trip to Portland and picked up a couplr of neat things i never seen before.