What corals do Raccoon Butterflies eat

[aellis9369]

My LFS has a racoon butterfly, and now I want it for my not-yet-a-reef tank, so I was wondering what corals they actually eat. Is it mainly softies, or any and everything?

I am okay with sacrificing soft corals for it, but I would like to keep Hammers and Micromussa.

For some reason it's hard to google detailed accounts other than just "they ate my corals"

 

[vetteguy53081]

My LFS has a racoon butterfly, and now I want it for my not-yet-a-reef tank, so I was wondering what corals they actually eat. Is it mainly softies, or any and everything?

I am okay with sacrificing soft corals for it, but I would like to keep Hammers and Micromussa.

For some reason it's hard to google detailed accounts other than just "they ate my corals"

Most softies, zoa and corals with polyps otherwise a beautiful fish

 

[aellis9369]

Most softies, zoa and corals with polyps otherwise a beautiful fish

What do you mean by "corals with polyps?"

Not to sound dumb, but don't all of them? Or do you mean more like the gonis that constantly extend them, vs. something like a trumpet or bubble?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What do you mean by "corals with polyps?"

Not to sound dumb, but don't all of them? Or do you mean more like the gonis that constantly extend them, vs. something like a trumpet or bubble?

SOME SPS have polyps. Below is an example

 

[dpoltsdsu]

You’d likely have better luck with SPS with them but that’s not a guarantee. Soft corals and LPS would be toast in my opinion. Beautiful fish though

 

[lwien01]

My LFS has a racoon butterfly, and now I want it for my not-yet-a-reef tank, so I was wondering what corals they actually eat. Is it mainly softies, or any and everything?

I am okay with sacrificing soft corals for it, but I would like to keep Hammers and Micromussa.

For some reason it's hard to google detailed accounts other than just "they ate my corals"

 

[lwien01]

Racoon Butterfly will eat LPS & SPS. I have a Burgess Butterfly. It nips on coral but I find LRS Chunky food, Mysis, Spirulina Brine fed several times a day keeps the fish
full. You are always going to get nipping when introducing Butterfly fish into a reef
Its unavoidable. Just keep it well fed to reduce the risk