Kleini Butterfly - aiptasia eating machine

[Seansea]

Haha ok. Happy wife happy life

 

[Aparker2005]

I think we may have settled on trying a marginalis butterfly. They do eat aiptasia, and seem MUCH hardier than a copperband, and not nearly as hard on corals. Fingers crossed!

 

[52728299]

Aw, I have a pearlscale and every month or so he seems to take out another coral. Usually a euphyllia. Just recently took out my gold torch. He's also taken out a hammer, frammer and frogspawn. I'm hoping I'll be able to find ones he just doesn't like, idk..

The few zoas I have are never touched tho, he will sometimes pick at my duncans but the colony so far has been able to put up with it. I've had the fish for about 5 months and it's mostly softies because my fish don't seem to go for those. And gonis are left alone thank jeebus

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've noticed the last few days our zoas oddly closing up which they usually never do.

Suspecting the Klein, I've been watching it. Looks like it is indeed picking at the zoas here and there. Also seems a little interested in our bubble coral, but no damage done to it yet. There's only 2 sections of zoas looking bad though. All the others are good.

Really was hoping it would stay a model citizen, but not looking good if this continues. Not sure what to do if we have to remove it, as I'm sure the aips will be back with a vengeance, causing basically the same issue taking over corals.

Only spare tank we have is a 20g, which wouldn't work long term either.

Dang this hobby!

Your the second person now- Thats Not good.

 

[52728299]

Hey, this thread has gotten me thinking I should probably remove my butterfly. Any tips on catching them?

He's getting worse with the coral, now he's slowly taking out two duncan colonies.. not the fishes fault but it's starting to get really expensive replacing these corals just to end up losing more

 

[Aparker2005]

Hey, this thread has gotten me thinking I should probably remove my butterfly. Any tips on catching them?

He's getting worse with the coral, now he's slowly taking out two duncan colonies.. not the fishes fault but it's starting to get really expensive replacing these corals just to end up losing more

I used a critter carrier with holes drilled in it and just chased it into and closed the lid once it was in. Took a while but was fairly easy.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I used a medium ice cap trap baited with frozen, it took a day.

 

[52728299]

Kk left fish trap in the tank overnight, I'll see how it goes putting food in there today. Wish me luck

 

[52728299]

Well dang, I got my butterfly out. He was a really sweet fish and gonna miss him. He's in a bucket ill be taking him to the lfs in a couple mins. Feels bad