Most hardy butterflyfish ?

[Aussie_Saltwater]

Hi Team,

I am interested to hear which butterflyfish you guys believe is the easiest to successfully keep in the home aquarium ?

 

[kboogie]

They are from deeper water where they eat plankton, sponges, and other non-photosynthetic inverts.

They do have a higher success rate.

Biota fish have a high success rate because they grow up eating prepared foods.

Have you kept one in a reef tank?

I have not. In theory, based on them being from deeper water you should be OK with caution but I haven’t nor have I known anyone personally who has.

 

[Zionas]

@kboogie Thanks for your info. Really helps. For the Roaops though, I heard they’re among the hardiest, do you think it’s more their deepwater habitat and what it means for the way they’re collected (and subsequent condition) more so than their inherent hardiness?

I believe the Milletseeds are deepwater too. From pictures I seen, there’s many of them down at 200-300ft in Hawaii. By no means rare well into the twilight zone.

Think Biota had success with the Klein’s late last year, want them to work on Auriga (likely) next and maybe Fremblii.

Do hope to see CB Heniochus, Pyramids and the Roaops.

Don’t know if they’re easier or harder to breed than Tangs.

 

[Boo Baker]

I have a mill seed in my 150 Gal, bought from Biota. Mixed reef and he is still only 2 1/2-3 inches. I like fish more than coral though, he can munch away if she decides

 

[RobertK]

I have a mill seed in my 150 Gal, bought from Biota. Mixed reef and he is still only 2 1/2-3 inches. I like fish more than coral though, he can munch away if she decides

How long have you had it and how is it doing so far? Has it bothered any corals so far?

 

[Boo Baker]

Its been in the tank since 7/29/2025. Most coral is soft and LPS. only 3 or 4 SPS. It has not touched anything that I have seen

 

[Paul B]

I did everything correctly EXCEPT provide the appropriate environment for him. The critical step that was missing.

And, you quarantined and medicated it. That is a big problem for me, and the fish.

(I know Jay will disagree but it is what it is and I rarely lost one in decades since the 70s)

 

[Zionas]

@Boo Baker Hey good to see someone with a Biota Milletseed. How’s it done for you, does it eat everything? Does it nip at anything? I believe they’re sold in the 1.5-2” range right?

Wish they can become a regular offering.