Need Butterfly Help

Lebreton33 · Oct 9, 2019

Hey reefers...Thanks for any and all help in advance. I’ve got a pearlscale butterfly in qt (2 weeks now) and he’s doing great. He’s in a 46 gallon bowfront with a teddy bear-like yellow flanked wrasse. I was thinking of adding a second pearlscale so he has a mate. Is it too late to do this? I see it can be done but they say at the same time...is two weeks later ok or does “same time” mean literally dumped in the tank at the same time. Thanks y’all!

Oldreefer44 · Oct 9, 2019

To me, same time means same time. Once one is established at all it becomes territorial.

foxt · Oct 9, 2019

How is the current butterfly behaving? If it is eating aggresively, you could try adding the new fly to the tank. The bigger issue you might want to consider is that you will be restarting QT because of the new fish.

Lebreton33 · Oct 9, 2019

I’ve seen “same time” as the protocol but I’ve also read that most fish take a decent amount of time to get aggressively territorial so I’m not sure, maybe two weeks is still within that introduction period.

He’s behaving fine, he and the yellow flanked seem to be good buddies. Both are eating like pigs, showing no aggression. So you think it could work or did I wait too long?

pcon · Oct 9, 2019

The literature suggests Butterflies are gonochorous and cannot be simply paired like angels or clowns. They are far more selective in mates than many of the other fish we commonly keep paired. So in general mixing conspecifics is not a good idea. There are of course a few schooling exceptions, and you may get away with housing two unpaired individuals in a large tank.

On top of the difficulties inherent in pairing Chaetodon a 46gal bowfront is already smaller than the recommended minimum to house a single pearlscale, throwing a second one into the mix seems like a poor idea.

Lebreton33 · Oct 9, 2019

Thanks for your input pcon. I’ve got a 300 gallon, the 46 is my qt.

foxt · Oct 9, 2019

You didn't say - how big is the DT? Nevermind - 300g.

As was said, they will probably act as two individuals vs a mated pair. That DT is probably big enough where they may have enough room for each other, but sometimes it comes down to the individual fish.

The bigger problem is probably getting them through QT together. Are you treating in the QT, or just observing?

Lebreton33 · Oct 9, 2019

300 gallon DT!

pcon · Oct 9, 2019

300gal is the low end of what I would risk unpaired conspecific butterflies. So if your obsession is pearl scale butterflies may be worth a try.
But why not some of the other 100+ species of butterflies? Lots of stunning fish in the family, and often butterflies can coexist better than say dwarf angels.

Lebreton33 · Oct 9, 2019

I just liked the idea of having two of the same species in the tank as husband and wife. No other plans to add more than one species of other fish. I think I’ll pass, maybe I will look at other types of butterfly’s. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!

pcon · Oct 9, 2019

Lebreton33 said:
I just liked the idea of having two of the same species in the tank as husband and wife.

Highly recommend dwarf or even full size angels for that. Way easier to pair than butterflies and some like the flames are year round spawners and so will do an almost nightly mating dance.

Lebreton33 · Oct 10, 2019

@pcon would a pair of potters angels or regal angels work better in your opinion? Both on my list. Thanks!

pcon · Oct 10, 2019

Potters are sexable, which can make things a touch easier. but a pair of either would work well. Could even do a pair of each in that sized tank.

Lebreton33 · Oct 10, 2019

I grabbed a potters from DD tonight. How soon would I have to grab another? Do they need to be added at the same time? Thanks!

pcon · Oct 10, 2019

Male female Pair of Potter's angels, Photo Credit Marine Collectors:

Male Top, Female Bottom

I am a big proponent of introducing angels to a new tank simultaneously, as in put them in a bucket together and pour the bucket with both angels into QT at the same time. Angels are highly territorial and suspicious of any conspecifics coming into their territory, so by introducing them at the same time neither can feel that the tank is their established territory. Ensure there is a lot of cover in the tank that you are pairing them in.

As far as timing, angels can transition quickly so if yours is a female and you want to get a male, then you need to act very quickly. Otherwise get a second female down the line and and allow the first to transition.

Lebreton33 · Oct 10, 2019

Ok thanks! Would two potter’s (3” and a 2”), a pearlscale and a yellow flanked wrasse do ok I’m a 46 gallon bowfront qt for 6 weeks?

Lebreton33 · Oct 10, 2019

This is a female, correct?

pcon · Oct 10, 2019

looks like a female to me.
Thats a lot of fish for a QT tank, but probably fine

Lebreton33 · Oct 12, 2019

@pcon would say these two are male and female? I ordered both but can cancel one if you don’t think they are a match. Also having them in with the pearlscale and the yellow flanked in a 46 gallon qt ok you think? They are 3.5” and 3” respectively (pearlscale is 2.5” and the yellow flanked 4”). Thanks!

mattzang · Oct 12, 2019

dang $200 for a single potters? DD is so insane now

marinecollectors has a pair of potters for $300 total lol

https://marinecollectors.com/fish/pvc_817498_2289447/potter-s-angel