Butterflies - those with experience
- Thread starter Playdope
- Start date
All I can suggest is that you plan ahead on the order you stock them (Sohal shoud go in last, IMO) and research the butterflies you're getting. Some are greedy feeders, some will starve rather than eat anything but live coral polyps. I've kept Forcipger flavissimus and they're very hardy, if a little passive. They will accept virtually any frozen or flake food small enough to fit in their mouth.
P. imperator is one of the hardier large angels, and a good selection. It's diet (like all large angels) should include sponge based foods like "Angel Formula" from Ocean Nutrition. They should also have some type of algae to constantly graze on. OK, so it's not the same exact fish but I feed my P. navarchus Angel Formula, broccoli, fresh shrimp, fresh squid, and a wee bit of beef. He's been with me 2 years come September and is fat and gorgeous.
Can't comment on the diet of the Sohal, I've never kept one. I just know they're mean as hell.
Water conditions should be of excellent quality for all these fish. Ammonia, nitrite, zero obviously. They can a handle a bit more nitrate than corals, but you should strive to keep it as low as possible to reduce algae anyway. All these fish will do much better in a live rock tank as it offers constant grazing of algae, copepods, sponges, etc.
HTH, Matt
P. imperator is one of the hardier large angels, and a good selection. It's diet (like all large angels) should include sponge based foods like "Angel Formula" from Ocean Nutrition. They should also have some type of algae to constantly graze on. OK, so it's not the same exact fish but I feed my P. navarchus Angel Formula, broccoli, fresh shrimp, fresh squid, and a wee bit of beef. He's been with me 2 years come September and is fat and gorgeous.
Can't comment on the diet of the Sohal, I've never kept one. I just know they're mean as hell.
Water conditions should be of excellent quality for all these fish. Ammonia, nitrite, zero obviously. They can a handle a bit more nitrate than corals, but you should strive to keep it as low as possible to reduce algae anyway. All these fish will do much better in a live rock tank as it offers constant grazing of algae, copepods, sponges, etc.
HTH, Matt
I thought about feeding the Angel Formula a while back when I kept an angel, but some other keepers told me not to because little was known about the freshness of the sponge when it was processed. I didn't look into further detail, but could anyone comment on this?
Seeing that I will have two of the same species butterfly, C. semilarvatus (if I could afford them :wink: ), should there be any cause for concern that the Sohol will bully them to death, even if added last? Should a smaller sohol be added?
In general, on the topic of feeding the species in this tank, I want to be sure I am feeding enough, but not overfeeding. What is the best way to ensure this?
The 100 gallon tank will be setup in the Berlin style, so it will be well stocked with LR (about 100 lbs). I have also decided to go with a 3 inch aragonite sandbed, which I will seed with live sand.
Jon
Seeing that I will have two of the same species butterfly, C. semilarvatus (if I could afford them :wink: ), should there be any cause for concern that the Sohol will bully them to death, even if added last? Should a smaller sohol be added?
In general, on the topic of feeding the species in this tank, I want to be sure I am feeding enough, but not overfeeding. What is the best way to ensure this?
The 100 gallon tank will be setup in the Berlin style, so it will be well stocked with LR (about 100 lbs). I have also decided to go with a 3 inch aragonite sandbed, which I will seed with live sand.
Jon
I have had a blackback butterfly for years. A copperband for several months. (Different tanks).
I do feed the blackback occasional clippings of xenia, but over time, she has gravitated to taking any kind of food including homemade, mysis and pellet foods.
My personal opinion is I would never put in another butterfly into either tank. They are quite an entity in their own right.
I do feed the blackback occasional clippings of xenia, but over time, she has gravitated to taking any kind of food including homemade, mysis and pellet foods.
My personal opinion is I would never put in another butterfly into either tank. They are quite an entity in their own right.
I'm currently keeping a tinker butterfly in a reef. Butterflies have the coolest personalities and it's just such a shame that they also have a fondness for clam mantles and coral polyps. 
So far my tinker has taken out a couple LPS corals, but I'm willing to live with that just cause it's so cool.
As far as feeding, make sure your butterfly is eating prepared/frozen foods before you buy...it'll save you some grief and $. Once you have them eating normal foods butterflies are usually pretty hardy creatures. Mine eats everything, but his favorite is mysis. Good luck!
So far my tinker has taken out a couple LPS corals, but I'm willing to live with that just cause it's so cool.As far as feeding, make sure your butterfly is eating prepared/frozen foods before you buy...it'll save you some grief and $. Once you have them eating normal foods butterflies are usually pretty hardy creatures. Mine eats everything, but his favorite is mysis. Good luck!
Forget the Imperator if you only have a 100 gallon tank. Mine has grown from 3" to 8" in a little over a year. An 8" fish is way to big to live long term in 100 gallons.
100 gallons would be better for a Magestic angel. They stay much smaller.
As for butterflies for a 100 gallon, pyramids and yellow longnose would be good fish. They are hardy and don't get too big.
Heniochus are also very easy to keep but can outgrow a 100 gallon tank in a few years.
John
100 gallons would be better for a Magestic angel. They stay much smaller.
As for butterflies for a 100 gallon, pyramids and yellow longnose would be good fish. They are hardy and don't get too big.
Heniochus are also very easy to keep but can outgrow a 100 gallon tank in a few years.
John
The Angel Formula from Ocean Nutrition is just about all my Majestic Angel eats. I feed my fish fresh shrimp, squid, beef, and red snapper. All the angel will touch is the formula food and a sprig of broccoli I leave for the fish to graze on. I've had the angel for two years now.
Semi's are great butterflies & will eat anything. Not every pair is compatible so be aware that you may have to replace one for a better mate. For a 100g, I'd just go with the Semi pair & some smaller fish. Forget the angels & tangs. Semis are slow growers, but can get large.
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