Pyramid Butterfly compatibility 10/14/09
Hi,
<Hello.>
There are a couple of online stores selling the Pyramid Butterfly fish
as "reef safe". I had always heard the butterfly fish don't fit well in
reef aquariums. The fish is quite nice looking and I would love to add
one to my
tank, but I don't want it to end up eating my corals or invertebrates.
What are your thoughts on this fish.
<I think that what you heard is often correct, they often will pick on
invertebrates including coral, sometimes to a minor degree, sometimes
badly enough to kill them. Overall I recommend passing on this fish for
now and saving it for a fish only tank.>
Thank you.
Brett
<You're welcome,
Josh Solomon.>
Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Pyramid Butterflyfish)
Question/Butterflyfish/Compatibility, fdg. 9/15/09
Hello,
<Hi Cassidy>
I recently purchased two Hemitaurichthys polylepis about 2 months ago. I
made the decision to purchased based off it being a plankton eater and
faring well in the home aquarium. I researched prior to purchasing to
make sure they would work well in a reef tank.
<Many dealers advertise as reef safe, but known to pick on nearly every
invertebrate present. I consider them unsafe for reef systems.>
They have been nipping at a plate coral very slowly - but it's to the
point where it will not survive if they are left in the tank. I have
tried to offer them 4 feedings per day to curb this behavior but it
makes no difference. I have not seen or noticed any damage elsewhere in
my tank. I have 6 plate corals and they only prefer one that is Fungia
cycloseris even though I have several specimens of that specific
species.
I have noticed they will eat just about anything offered including my
hands! I was under the impression they would eat plankton for the
majority of their diet. They will eat smashed peanuts, carrots, love
seaweed (they
are up to 4 5x5 sheets daily that they refuse to share with the tangs
whom are twice their size), lobster eggs, DT's, Cyclops, mysis, brine,
baby brine, etc. . So I was a little curious - took out some Chaeto from
the fuge since I've never seen a fish that will eat it - they eat that
too. Is it normal for them to act like Billy goats?
<Although fairly easy to keep, this feeding behavior seems a little
unusual.>
They are completely fearless - when I put a net in the tank all my fish
scatter and hide and they swim right into it.
<Very unusual here, normally a skittish fish that shoots into
caves/crevices at the slightest sign of danger.>
Is it time for them to find a new home?
<That decision will be entirely up to your preferences....butterflies or
corals.
May want to read here. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Hemitaurichthys.htm>
Thank you for your advice,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Cassidy
Re Question/Butterflyfish/Compatibility 9/19/09
Thanks for your input.
<You're welcome.>
One more question! I went to trap these two fish. I caught the fist one
- put him in a bucket while I attempted to trap the second. After about
ten minutes I noticed he was laying on his side appearing to be dead. So
I panicked put him back into the main tank. He continued to act this way
for another 5 minutes. Came back into the room and he was swimming
around like normal again.
Do these fish play dead or what? Need to remove them but really don't
want to put them in danger.
<I'll assume that the bucket is made of a non-ferrous material and that
the water came from the display tank.
With that being said, and the fishes nature, It's remotely possible that
the fish may show this behavior with no where to run.
A more likely scenario is going into shock from the stress of capture.>
Thanks,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Cassidy
