Butterfly's In A Reef

[weaponsofmassdesign]

I've been see a few full reef tanks that have a lot of SPS and LPS in them that also have Butterfly's. I know Copperbands are fairly common and some individuals can be reef safe. I recently saw a tank with two Heniochus in it. Are they sometimes reef safe as well? What other Butterfly's have people kept in reefs successfully?

 

[droblack]

CBB and longnose butterflyfish have worked out well in mine and other tanks.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Man, you are making me miss my CBB. Beautiful fish, and reef safe with the chance of eating zoos. If you plan on one, be very sure that you feed every day, and feed frozen mysis, or they will starve.

 

[robby2782]

I have a Declivus which has never picked an acropora in 3 years. It did take down a piece of frogspawn though.

 

[c.declivisowner]

I have a Declivis Butterfly and a Marcellae Butterfly both are sorta reef safe the Marcellae or Marcella is a master at picking at the rocks and will eat any fan worms or other stuff that it see's. The Declivis does nip at acans but I don't have any in where it is so I don't care. It also did pick at a brain coral a long long time ago but just a couple days ago I added a favia and it hasn't touched it. I'd say there both sorta reef safe the Marcellae being more so but you must feed well and also be willing and able to move corals out of the tank if one day it decides it likes something. Butterfly's are my absolute favorite fish so the corals will always go in another tank before the Butterfly's

 

[robby2782]

I have a Declivis Butterfly and a Marcellae Butterfly both are sorta reef safe the Marcellae or Marcella is a master at picking at the rocks and will eat any fan worms or other stuff that it see's. The Declivis does nip at acans but I don't have any in where it is so I don't care. It also did pick at a brain coral a long long time ago but just a couple days ago I added a favia and it hasn't touched it. I'd say there both sorta reef safe the Marcellae being more so but you must feed well and also be willing and able to move corals out of the tank if one day it decides it likes something. Butterfly's are my absolute favorite fish so the corals will always go in another tank before the Butterfly's

Mine too! Everyone who comes over always gives me grief over having one but all I keep now is acropora. I've always preferred butterflies and angels over the boring clown/chromis/yellow tang filled tanks I always see.

I'm really thinking about buying a c. Paucifasciatus, but they're so expensive now. 10 years ago, I bought one for $30!!!! It looks like Red Sea fish are going to be harder to come by.

 

[coloacro]

CBB and longnose butterflyfish have worked out well in mine and other tanks.
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[c.declivisowner]

Mine too! Everyone who comes over always gives me grief over having one but all I keep now is acropora. I've always preferred butterflies and angels over the boring clown/chromis/yellow tang filled tanks I always see.

I'm really thinking about buying a c. Paucifasciatus, but they're so expensive now. 10 years ago, I bought one for $30!!!! It looks like Red Sea fish are going to be harder to come by.

Those are amazing fish I hope to add one of those too someday as well as a Tinkerii,Burgess, Mitratus, Banks and maybe even a French Butterfly sometime down the road. Angelfish are also one of my favorite fish but I have never had luck with them. I just don't see how a reef can be complete without a Butterfly LOL.

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

Okay now it's time for pics of your Butterflyfish in your reefs!!

 

[c.declivisowner]

 

[k2parkstar]

^^^ Love the butterflies, I will have one, when I get a larger tank.

 

[robby2782]

 

[robby2782]

I included my Goldflake too

 

[Scoly]

I have a pyramid, he is a Awsome fish!

 

[weaponsofmassdesign]

I just read an article that said Heniochus acuminatus and H. diphreutes are zooplanktivores and reef safe. I may have to get a small group of those. I keep several SPS, LPS and zoas do maybe that would be my best bet.