Pyramid Butterfly Reef safe?

[tweeter]

Has anyone had experience with the Pyramid Butterfly Hemitaurichthys polylepis in a reef tank? I have a 120 gallon mixed reef, mostly LPS, but with some sps, and would love to have a Pyramid butterfly, but am leary to try it.

 

[Ssminnow81]

Mine was fine for about a month then one day snapped.
I was wondering why pieces of soft corals were floating around the tank. Then I saw it ripping things apart.

 

[4FordFamily]

No butterfly is reef safe. Some will avoid eating coral more than others, some will only eat coral you don't care about, others will randomly decide to gobble up hundreds or thousands of dollars of coral.

 

[Baldguy]

I have the same tank as you. Mostly LPS and softies. With the exception of Xenia my pyramid has been the perfect citizen. Certainly did take care of my Xenia problem though.

 

[saltyhog]

Don't have any Xenia but had some GSP that mine didn't bother. Mine has not bothered a single coral, is not aggressive and eats anything I feed him.

 

[ca1ore]

My trio have been fine in my reef tank. Ate all the Xenia, but nothing else. Certainly better behaved than any of my dwarf Angels.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had one that ate all the xenia and anthellia the first night in the tank, but touched nothing else.

 

[Waters]

As far as Butterflys go, they are one of the safest.

 

[pickupman66]

As far as Butterflys go, they are one of the safest.

this is probably the best statement on this fish in this thread. I have successfully kept several of these Fine fish in my 180 and never had a hit of an issue with them. Very peaceful tank mates and since they are planktonic feeders, they usually dont care at all about corals.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Here is what the OP is talking about.

 

[tweeter]

Thank you all for your answers!

 

[Baldguy]

Zoster Butterfly is closely related and all the same info applies. Loves Xenia. I like the look more. Yellow Pyramid looks like it has a dirty face to me.

 

[saltyhog]

Here's a picture in their natural environment (taken about 2 hours ago).

 

[Spike-Man]

Had them for years never any problems. One of my favorites.

 

[marinelife]

I have had 5 in my tank for 3 years now. My tank is all SPS and I have not had any issues at all.

 

[ksfulk]

Ive got them in my reef tank right now, and they are wonderful. I only have LPS and SPS and havent ever had any issues with them nipping coral.

 

[Brad Syphus]

 

[tweeter]

Wow! I wish my tank looked like that!! It's beautiful, the fish, corals and design are just perfect!

 

[Baldguy]

Divers Den is supposed to have a trio of Yellow Pyramids today for those interested.

 

[Cleo642]

^^^Like he said.