Reef Safe Butterfly?

[Tie]

I've never seen a Butterfly that was totally "rated" as reef safe. They all say with caution as they will nip at corals etc. I was on Dr's Foster & Smith and ran across the Yellow Pyramid Butterfly. It claims they are totally reef safe and peaceful temperament.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...21&pCatId=1853

Anyone have any experience with these guys or know of another Butterfly that fares well with the reef tank?

[Powder Blue]

I have seen 2 Long Nose Butterflies in 2 tanks(not mine) that don't touch corals or anemones. This may be an exception. I am considering getting one for myself. My Threadfin Butterfly climbed into my Anemone,chewed a hole in his butt and had to go.

[Reefland]

I think the addition of any Butterfly fish into a reef is a bit of a gamble. The most common reef addition is the Copperband Butterfly for the control of Aiptasia, the problem is once the Aiptasia are gone, it is hard to get them to eat commercially available foods.

Scott Z.

[Bamm Bamm]

Copperband butterflys are completely reef safe and great at controlling your aptaisias!!

[Elmo18]

Copperband butterflys are completely reef safe and great at controlling your aptaisias!!

They will, however, also eat your feather dusters.

- Elmo

[SteveP]

They will, however, also eat your feather dusters.

- Elmo

Assuming they eat anything at all.

Definitely one of the safest of the butterflys - pretty as well - but they can be very difficult to feed. I've had two in the past - one ate all the Aiptasia, and then went on hunger strike (I managed to find another reefer that took him) and the second never ate from day one, and lasted about 3 weeks.

Steve

[kevinpo]

The Pyramid Butterfly is very reef safe, even safer than the Copperband. They can be hard to acclimate to captive life but once they settle in are quite hardy. They are harrased by the large angels and tangs and should be in the tank first before those.
Regarding Copperband butterflyfish I"ve had about 80% survival rate. Raw shrimp, mysis shrimp, and freeze dried plankton are what I use to get them eating. I keep them by themselves or with small fish for the first 2-3 months until they become aggressive eaters. Most will become very trusting and hand feed.

HTH,
Kevin

[dougc]

Pyramid butterflies are on my short list and, in fact, will be the centerpiece fish in my tank. They are supposed to do well in groups and I will be adding at least two and possibly more. I have not been able to find much information regarding the dynamics of keeping them in a group, so I am still trying to determine how many (or few) I can keep together. I know of one reefkeeper who has a pair of these in his tank. If you have Scott Michaels Pocket Guide to Marine Fish, look at the overleaf in the front of the book. That picture is what turned me on to these fish. Sadly, the other fish in the picture look like purple queens, so I can't recreate the whole scene.