Butterfly Compatibility

bknapp · Sep 15, 2015

I've got a standard 180 (6*2*2) with four tangs (purple, yellow, white tail, blonde naso,) magnificent foxface, clowns, anthias, chromis and more importantly for this discussion an established CBB. I am looking to add another fish (wanting something unordinary and reef/invert safe) and was turned to a Pakistani Butterfly. Do you think it would coexist peacefully with the CBB and the rest of the inhabitants?

eatbreakfast · Sep 16, 2015

It is not reef safe it will eat corals.

There may be some initial aggression, but it should be allowed to coexist.

bknapp · Sep 16, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
It is not reef safe it will eat corals.

There may be some initial aggression, but it should be allowed to coexist.

Darn, not reef safe. Have any suggestions that fit? Thanks.

fishmommy · Sep 16, 2015

Pyramid butterfly?

eatbreakfast · Sep 16, 2015

fishmommy said:
Pyramid butterfly?

I agree, or a zoster.

bknapp · Sep 16, 2015

Doesn't have to be a butterfly I do like the pyramids.

Daniel@R2R · Sep 16, 2015

If you can swing it, I'd vote for a trio of pyramids.

...I should add that if you do that, I will be living vicariously through you.

bknapp · Sep 16, 2015

A trio would be cool, not sure the bio load could handle it.

Humblefish · Sep 16, 2015

Longnose usually goes well with a CBB.

eatbreakfast · Sep 17, 2015

Humblefish said:
Longnose usually goes well with a CBB.

...but I have had established yellow tangs be very aggressive to LN butterflies.

For a nonbutterfly option look at the reef safe wrasses.

Humblefish · Sep 17, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
...but I have had established yellow tangs be very aggressive to LN butterflies.

...I've had YTs & Longnose coexist peacefully. The same color thing might be an issue at first, but that usually dies down. If he has a CBB making it with all those tangs, a Longnose should be a breeze. Maybe the CBB & Longnose will form an alliance or something.

eatbreakfast · Sep 17, 2015

The last dozen clients I have first hand seen add a LN to a tank with an existing YT, in all but one of them the LN was not allowed to settle and relatively quickly perished. In the instance that it was allowed to settle it was in an 800+g tank with a ton of other fish to distract the tangs.

If the LN is added before the YT I have seen an exponetially better margin of success.

Although copperbands may be timid initially, once established they can be surprisingly aggressive toward laterally compressed fish.

bknapp · Sep 17, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
...but I have had established yellow tangs be very aggressive to LN butterflies.

For a nonbutterfly option look at the reef safe wrasses.

I've thought about a LN as well. I've got three wrasses already. Trying to find something way out of the box, not normally seen. I'm more of a coral enthusiast.

eatbreakfast · Sep 18, 2015

bknapp said:
I've thought about a LN as well. I've got three wrasses already. Trying to find something way out of the box, not normally seen. I'm more of a coral enthusiast.

Marine betta is unusual, but also readily available.