Heniochus diphreutes Reef safe or not?

[Zhark17]

Hi everybody!

Thinking on getting a H.diphreutes for my mixed tank.

Have read this is a reef safe banner fish, is it true?

Any experiences with them and corals?

Hope this is a better option than a pygoplites diacanthus.

Cheers!!!

 

[Zhark17]

Up

 

[Zionas]

I have no personal experience but I read in a book that they’re planktivores while the Acuminatus eat coral skeletons as part of their diet. Not sure how they are compared to the Regal. I’d ask.

Another genus of butterflies that are planktivores are the Hemitaurichthys. Yellow Pyramid, Zoster.

 

[Phil D.]

The Henochius was one of the fish on my wish list as I too read it was reef safe.

 

[Zionas]

My favorite is Heniochus Intermedius (Red Sea Bannerfish).

 

[Zhark17]

My favorite is Heniochus Intermedius (Red Sea Bannerfish).

Cool, are they reef safe?

Im a bit afraid, all I know comes from google articles, but not people experiences.

 

[Zionas]

I’m not sure how reef safe they are, unfortunately. It’s best to ask. Sorry. They are a very pretty fish though.

 

[Zionas]

I’m not sure how reef safe they are, unfortunately. It’s best to ask. Sorry.

 

[Zhark17]

I’m not sure how reef safe they are, unfortunately. It’s best to ask. Sorry.

Thank uu!!!
Hope someone with a diphreutes say something

 

[Rubberfrog]

I had a heniochus and he was fine in my reef tank

 

[Zhark17]

I had a heniochus and he was fine in my reef tank

Whas this an acuminatus or diphreutes?
Getting there

 

[Rubberfrog]

Whas this an acuminatus or diphreutes?
Getting there

The one you asked about. The other one is absolutely not reef safe.

 

[Nilo]

I have 2. I’m not sure if they are definitely diphreutes as they were only labeled as Heniochus at the LFS. But they had >20+ of them schooling/shoaling in their tank and I counted their dorsal spines by taking pictures and they had 12 vs 11 for acuminatus. In any case, I got them at ~2” and now are almost 4-5” not counting the pennant. They haven’t touched anything in my mixed reef tank. Bought 3 but one didn’t make it thru QT

 

[Zionas]

Whoa props to you for counting the dorsal spines! Lol.

Did that one die from infection?

 

[Nilo]

Whoa props to you for counting the dorsal spines! Lol.

Did that one die from infection?

Not really sure, was eating one day then died a few days later in QT

 

[Nilo]

Whoa props to you for counting the dorsal spines! Lol.

Did that one die from infection?

Here is one of the pics I took when I got them. The yellow lines are the spines I counted. All the Heniochus have 3 spines before the pennant spine so total of 12

 

[Zionas]

How long have you had them and how big are they? Will you expect them to grow any bigger?

 

[Zhark17]

Thank you Nilo, they look like diphreutes to me!! Are they difficult to keep?
Beautiful fish!!!!

As I wrote in other thread im between diphreutes and pygoplites. Id say diphreutes is winning for now.

 

[Nilo]

How long have you had them and how big are they? Will you expect them to grow any bigger?

I've had them for 7 months. They're fairly easy. Eats anything I put in the tank incl flakes, pellets, mysis, LRS, and nori. They're my fastest growing fish even compared to the tangs. From 2" to 4-5" in 7 months. They're supposed to get to 7-8" but hopefully not. I have a 7 foot tank but they already look big right now. It's cool too see them patrolling the tank together. I don't know if they are a pair or just naturally like hanging out with each other. They're not aggressive at all and ignore all the other fish.

 

[Reeffraff]

I had a H. diphreutes. Fine for a few months then started going after LPS. Mostly scolys and lobos.