Butterfly compatibility

[Kent67]

Hello all, first time posting. I worked at at a saltwater and reef shop in the late 90's and had a mixed reef tank of one size or another since shortly thereafter. After a crash over a year ago I almost broke down the aquarium but, at the last moment, decided to do my first fowlr since there have been a number of fish I've always wanted but wouldn't risk with corals. So, now I've got a 90g going with a few fish, including a 2.5" raccoon butterfly. I call him pacman because he's yellow and always frantically begging for food. I've always wanted an auriga butterfly, and after swimming with both in Hawaii, want them even more. I got oje a little while ago and am ready to put him in the DT. They should get along, right? I floated the auriga first and the raccoon was flashing and acting aggressive to him through the bag. I put the auriga in a critter keeper (tried to catch the raccoon) to separate them and let the raccoon get used to the newcomer last night per the shop's suggestion. They said 1-2 days. This is the first time I've had multiple butterflies and the first time separating fish with a visual barrier like this. Is there any way to tell when the raccoon's interest and territoriality have waned enough to let the auriga free? Does a couple days seem like enough time? He now seems much less interested but still swims up and mad dogs the auriga every once in a long while.

 

[Kent67]

Current situation

 

[EmdeReef]

Welcome to R2R!

You should get a sense after a few days. I would continue to keep the auriga in the acclimation box. You would know once the raccoon stops charging towards it. If that doesn’t happen you can try catching the raccoon and holding in a different tank for a few days. Re-arranging rockwork sometimes also works to diffuse aggression.

Unfortunately, sometimes nothing works.

 

[Kent67]

Thanks! I'd say the raccoon has stopped charging at the auriga but, if he's swimming by and catches his attention, he'll stop, stare, and maybe flash his dorsal. I love my rockwork arrangement right now and am having a hard time thinking about changing it but, I guess if I have to. I don't think I can catch the raccoon without removing a lot of rock and sure hope it doesn't come to that!

 

[Jesterrace]

One of the things we forget is that the "Peaceful" label for temperament doesn't take into account a well established fish reacting to a new fish (especially when they are similar species). How long has the Raccoon been in the Display Tank prior to the Auriga being added? If it's more than a few months then it likely got very used to being the only Butterfly in there and will need a time out/change in environment (ie rearranging the rockscape) in order to get used to co-existing with another Butterflyfish. It's also possible that this can be an establishing pecking order sort of behavior that will calm down over time. I had a Melanurus Wrasse (generally considered peaceful) that had been in the tank for 9 months and was constantly going after my new poor Blue Star Leopard for about 2 weeks but now it's only really around feeding time where the Mel decides to give it a hard time (not that it matters because the Blue Star Leopard is the ultimate sneak and gets more than it's fair share of food). The point is that generally once you get past a few months all bets are off on new additions, even more so when they are members of a similar species.

 

[Jesterrace]

Thanks! I'd say the raccoon has stopped charging at the auriga but, if he's swimming by and catches his attention, he'll stop, stare, and maybe flash his dorsal. I love my rockwork arrangement right now and am having a hard time thinking about changing it but, I guess if I have to. I don't think I can catch the raccoon without removing a lot of rock and sure hope it doesn't come to that!

I would just monitor for now and make sure it doesn't get worse. My Wrasses will periodically flare their fins and circle each other but I have never seen any biting or damage and after a few seconds they simply move on. I think it's more of a reassertion of dominance/pecking order.

 

[Kent67]

Thanks for the replies, all. Yes, unfortunately, the raccoon has been in there for...maybe 3 or so months. We're at about 40 hours in the acclimation box and the raccoon is still very interested in the auriga but doesn't seem to be acting as aggressive. I'm starting to feel bad for the auriga and my wife is giving me a hard time about his little box. I'll probably free him soon.

How much rearranging of rocks is enough to confuse the old-timer? Does it have to be significant or can I just pull down some of the highest rocks and coral skeletons to the bottom?

 

[Jesterrace]

Thanks for the replies, all. Yes, unfortunately, the raccoon has been in there for...maybe 3 or so months. We're at about 40 hours in the acclimation box and the raccoon is still very interested in the auriga but doesn't seem to be acting as aggressive. I'm starting to feel bad for the auriga and my wife is giving me a hard time about his little box. I'll probably free him soon.

How much rearranging of rocks is enough to confuse the old-timer? Does it have to be significant or can I just pull down some of the highest rocks and coral skeletons to the bottom?

Honestly trial and error is the only way to tell for sure. Most recommend a complete rearrangement of the rockscape, but that's a ridiculously impractical pain (particularly if it took you a long time to get everything arranged to sit right in your tank in the first place). Try the partial and see if it's enough.

 

[Kent67]

Ok, thanks again. Going for it...

 

[cracker]

any way to put an egg crate panel, front to back of the display . This way you can separate the fish, the new fish won't be cramped in the small container.can swim around have some rock to pick at & sleep in.

 

[Kent67]

any way to put an egg crate panel, front to back of the display . This way you can separate the fish, the new fish won't be cramped in the small container.can swim around have some rock to pick at & sleep in.

The tank is still stuffed with rock from when it was a reef so not real easily.

I did something between minor and moderate rearrangement of rocks and released the auriga. So far, so good. Pacman the raccoon tried to chase him a bit at first but seems to be leaving him alone now. The auriga was swimming around picking at rocks like, "whatever." Fingers crossed!