[ZBT3091]

Would a bubble tip anemone be safe with a copperband bfly, regal tang, and forcep bfly? As inverts i would have snails, shrimp, + crabs. Other corals would be pink birdnest, mushroom coral, leather coral, and brain coral. THis is ina 75 g tank

[Ninong]

Yes, the BTA (Entacmaea quadricolor) should be safe with those two species of butterflyfishes, Chelmon rostratus and Forcipiger flavissimus. They're not the ones that prey on Entacmaea quadricolor in the wild. Be aware that neither of these butterflyfishes are completely reef-aquarium safe. I would be willing to chance either species in a reef aquarium myself, although maybe not one as small as yours. In fact, I don't think I would keep any butterflyfishes or any tangs in a 75-gal tank but that's your decision to make.

Returning to the dietary habits of the two butterflyfish species you are asking about, Chelmon rostratus will definitely eat any feather dusters in your tank as well as any polychaete worms in the sand bed and live rock. It will also eat any Aiptasia should you have any. In addition, it will feed on benthic microcrustaceans such as copepods, amphipods, etc.

According to fishbase, Forcipiger flavissimus will: "Feed on a wide variety of animal prey including hydroids, fish eggs, small crustaceans but prefers tube feet of echinoderms, pedicilaria of sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles."

That would seem to mean that you had better not try adding any sea stars, cucumbers or urchins if you don't want them to end up with their feet eaten.

The Paracanthurus hepatus (aka Hepatus Tang, Blue Tang, Palette Tang, Hippo Tang, Wedge-tailed Tang, Wedge-tailed Blue Tang, Flagtail Tang, and Regal Tang, among many other English common names) will not bother the BTA. In fact, nothing will bother the BTA if you add a Premnas biaculeatus (Maroon Clownfish) or Amphiprion clarkii (Clark's Clownfish) to your tank!