Butterfly fish in reef tank

[D. Torres]

Has anyone had any luck keeping a butterfly fish in a reef tank. My LFS said I could depending on the type of corals I keep. I picked up a lattice butterfly. I have a just a few corals some GSP, hammer coral, zoanthids, and galxea. I normally work 12 hour shift and usually only feed once per day. My tank is only 2 months old and I currently just have a clean up crew with 2 clowns 1 blue tank and 1 snowflake eel. I've seen the butterfly pick at my live rock and only once at my zoanthids but I'm considering returning it to my LFS. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Brew12]

Has anyone had any luck keeping a butterfly fish in a reef tank. My LFS said I could depending on the type of corals I keep. I picked up a lattice butterfly. I have a just a few corals some GSP, hammer coral, zoanthids, and galxea. I normally work 12 hour shift and usually only feed once per day. My tank is only 2 months old and I currently just have a clean up crew with 2 clowns 1 blue tank and 1 snowflake eel. I've seen the butterfly pick at my live rock and only once at my zoanthids but I'm considering returning it to my LFS. Any input would be appreciated.

I believe the Latticed Butterfly is a fish that feed predominantly on coral. It is unlikely that any coral would do well in the same tank.
From Liveaquaria.com
"It requires a 120 gallon or larger aquarium that has numerous hiding places and peaceful community members. In the wild, it will prey on hard and soft corals, zoanthids, and/or anemones."

 

[Sallstrom]

We have one in a 1800 litre tank at work. I moved it in about 3 months ago.
It mostly eats on our Galaxea and Stylopora species. Probably some of our Euphyllia and mushrooms as well. All the Acropora and Motipora are fine. It hasn't killed anything, it just takes a polyp here and there.
Not sure if we will keep it in this tank. I wanted to see if it would eat clove polyps, but it didn't

 

[Big G]

The only Butterfly fish that are reef safe are Copperbands, Long Nose, and Pyramids.

 

[D. Torres]

Thanks for the replies. @Sallstrom my tank is nowhere near your level I'm just starting my tank and I think butterfly fish will inhibit the growth of my newly added corals.

 

[doughboy]

The only Butterfly fish that are reef safe are Copperbands, Long Nose, and Pyramids.

copperbands are not completely reef safe. it will eat acans.

 

[rkpetersen]

The only Butterfly fish that are reef safe are Copperbands, Long Nose, and Pyramids.

And even these can't always be trusted.

 

[Baldguy]

Pyramids are about as safe as you're going to get. Even they will eat Xenia though. But that's a good thing. I'm looking for a Zoster Pyramid now.

 

[piranhaman00]

Bump.

I’m looking at a Klein’s for an aiptasia problem. I’m prepared to move my acans but will it eat hammers?

 

[Wolf89]

@vetteguy53081

 

[Neoalchemist]

We have one in a 1800 litre tank at work. I moved it in about 3 months ago.
It mostly eats on our Galaxea and Stylopora species. Probably some of our Euphyllia and mushrooms as well. All the Acropora and Motipora are fine. It hasn't killed anything, it just takes a polyp here and there.
Not sure if we will keep it in this tank. I wanted to see if it would eat clove polyps, but it didn't

View attachment 697072

If only he would have worked on the clove polyps. Those things are the devil!

 

[Neoalchemist]

Thanks for the replies. @Sallstrom my tank is nowhere near your level I'm just starting my tank and I think butterfly fish will inhibit the growth of my newly added corals.

Any butterfly would would have a tough time getting enough to eat in a new tank.
I say "tough time" but really what I mean is they will starve unless fed multiple times a day like 3 minimum.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have three tanks with a Kleini butterfly in each and my larger tank has a copperband which all eat vigorously and peaceful and bother No coral.

 

[windemerejack]

I have only had 2 types of butterfly that haven't eaten my coral, that's a Klein and a pyramid, although I had a shoal of 5 pyramid only 1 would nip occasionally at my corals, but with all butterfly fish it is pot luck how they will react to your corals, there isn't a definitive.