Butterflies and aptaisa

[ReeferBill]

Hey guys,
As the title says, do you know of any kinds of butterflies that eat aptasia other than copper banded? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey guys,
As the title says, do you know of any kinds of butterflies that eat aptasia other than copper banded? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Klein's will, but they will also eat corals.

 

[Peterrdee]

I have a teardrop and they will eat anything coral I assume but some encrusting sps, pyramid butterfly might be a great option! They are reef safe I have two black ones never touched any corals really but I have less aptasia, or go with the filefish definitely they are very smart fish and will sit there waiting for you to come interact. Most butterfly once established and healthy are very friendly fish

 

[areefer01]

My Milletseed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon miliaris) does. I know another hobbyist who has one and it does the same thing for him. Mine is in a mixed reef 210 gallons of 7 years of age. Large LPS and SPS colonies. The other hobbyist I know keeps his in his frag tang I recall.

I don't know of if it has anything to do with the Genus or subgenus if truth be told. Not a marine biologist. I do know that Indo Pacific Sea Farms also has a video of his Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) doing the same. He places egg crate full of aptasia and it goes right after it.

Of course all fish are different and it goes without saying what one fish does for one may not do for the other. Just how it works. Honestly I purchased the Milletseed because I think it is awesome sauce. Eating aptasia was just a bonus.

 

[Big E]

Muelleri Copperband is by far the best and hardy as well. They are better at competing for food and will live a good 10-15 years.

This is one of my favorite fish I have ever owned. They're pricey but well worth it.

Pictures do these fish no justice.