"Reef Safe" butterflies

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

Hey guys,
Quick question for you fish experts!
So I wanted to get 2 butterfly's for my reef tank and wanted to know what species are best to go with.

So far these are some options I had.
Pakistan butterfly
Raccoon butterfly
Longnose butterfly
Copperband butterfly
Pearlscale butterfly
Burgess butterfly

Out of these which are most reef safe?

Maritimer · Mar 4, 2017

Quite the challenge!

There may be another contender - I've heard good things about the pyramid butterflies as well . . .

~Bruce

fabutahoun · Mar 4, 2017

Longnose butterfly is one of the safest in a reef

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

Maritimer said:
Quite the challenge!

There may be another contender - I've heard good things about the pyramid butterflies as well . . .

~Bruce

I've heard great things about them also!
I know for sure I can have 2 butterfly's in a 60 gallon. I'd like to have more but I'm not sure if that's possible.

fabutahoun · Mar 4, 2017

Or You Can get this one Like me, but you must be OK with a little harmless nipping

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

That guy was on my list also... how many butterfly's do you think I'd be able to get away with in a 60 gallon?

Jason mack · Mar 4, 2017

fabutahoun said:
Or You Can get this one Like me, but you must be OK with a little harmless nipping

Wow beautiful-fish and tank !! I have a 90 g and was looking for fish too put in.. I really like these ..

wkscott · Mar 4, 2017

Rex said:
Hey guys,
Quick question for you fish experts!
So I wanted to get 2 butterfly's for my reef tank and wanted to know what species are best to go with.

So far these are some options I had.
Pakistan butterfly
Raccoon butterfly
Longnose butterfly
Copperband butterfly
Pearlscale butterfly
Burgess butterfly

Out of these which are most reef safe?

Pakistan, Racoon, Pearscale. NOT reef safe at all. They eat coral.
Burgess, don't trust it.
Copperband and Longnose pretty safe.
Bottom line is that butterflies in general are not reef safe. Even the "safe" species can have rogue individuals that could decimate your tank in a day.
Pyramid Butterflyfish are planktavors and are truly reef safe. I have a couple in my tank.

Maritimer · Mar 4, 2017

Honestly, an awful lot of the butterflies on the list get pretty big for a 60 gallon tank, though that's just my personal opinion . . .

~Bruce

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

wkscott said:
Pakistan, Racoon, Pearscale. NOT reef safe at all. They eat coral.
Burgess, don't trust it.
Copperband and Longnose pretty safe.
Bottom line is that butterflies in general are not reef safe. Even the "safe" species can have rogue individuals that coulf decimate your tank in a year.
Pyramid Butterflyfish are planktavors and are truly reef safe. I have a couple in my tank.

ok good to hear! I'm starting to like those pyramids...

Roy 9121 · Mar 4, 2017

Rex said:
Hey guys,
Quick question for you fish experts!
So I wanted to get 2 butterfly's for my reef tank and wanted to know what species are best to go with.

So far these are some options I had.
Pakistan butterfly
Raccoon butterfly
Longnose butterfly
Copperband butterfly
Pearlscale butterfly
Burgess butterfly

Out of these which are most reef safe?

You can scratch the pearlscale off your list, they are not reef safe.

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

Roy 9121 said:
You can scratch the pearlscale off your list, they are not reef safe.

Ok I'm leaning towards
Golden Semilarvatus Butterflyfish
Copperband butterlyfish or longnose

Are these 2 good?

fabutahoun · Mar 4, 2017

Jason, and rex, I think 2 is good, but beware Semilarvatus is a gamble and you should get a small specimen that is not used to eat corals in the wild. this is one of the important things to have in mind to keep Angels and butterfly in a reef.
I think The long nose and pyramid are your best option, if you are welling to take the gamble then Semilarvatus. for me i found it as safe as an emperor angel in a reef.

Copper band is an excellent option if its eating, and will eliminate aiptasia if there is any in the tank

wkscott · Mar 4, 2017

Rex said:
Ok I'm leaning towards
Golden Semilarvatus Butterflyfish
Copperband butterlyfish or longnose

Are these 2 good?

All 3 of these butterflies grow to 8 inches or more and will eventually outgrow a 60g tank.

fabutahoun · Mar 4, 2017

60g hmmmm I just noticed, I thought 90 g !!

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

fabutahoun said:
60g hmmmm I just noticed, I thought 90 g !!

Yea I'd like one or two... I know a long nose and copperband are both fine because I've seen them in 55's and 60's!

fabutahoun · Mar 4, 2017

I think copperband is the best option, The long nose can get too large for 60 gallons, I Have seen huge ones in LFS, bought one and returned it next day because it was too large, even larger than my tangs and angel

wkscott · Mar 4, 2017

Rex said:
Yea I'd like one or two... I know a long nose and copperband are both fine because I've seen them in 55's and 60's!

Just because you may have seen them in smaller tanks doesn't necessarily mean it's okay. You saw juveniles. If you would have seen full-grown adults, you would know it's not okay.

Preme · Mar 4, 2017

wkscott said:
Just because you may have seen them in smaller tanks doesn't necessarily mean it's okay. You saw juveniles. If you would have seen full-grown adults, you would know it's not okay.

You think I'm ok with a single copperband?

Jason mack · Mar 4, 2017

fabutahoun said:
Jason, and rex, I think 2 is good, but beware Semilarvatus is a gamble and you should get a small specimen that is not used to eat corals in the wild. this is one of the important things to have in mind to keep Angels and butterfly in a reef.
I think The long nose and pyramid are your best option, if you are welling to take the gamble then Semilarvatus. for me i found it as safe as an emperor angel in a reef.

Copper band is an excellent option if its eating, and will eliminate aiptasia if there is any in the tank

Thankyou for your advice .!! I only have 2 clown fish and a spotted dragonet in upto now .. But like everyone I would like that wow factor in my tank ..(plus my girlfriend keeps on at me too buy a couple of fish instead of just corals all the time

)..I've been reluctant too buy fish because I want them reef safe also .. I'm finding it difficult too decide ... more time and research I guess