Question about a long nose butterfly fish.

Dwb5 · Sep 23, 2016

Idk. Knew there was diff CB but I didn't know there was diff long nose.

becks · Sep 23, 2016

yes, most are Forcipiger flavissimus but you can get one with a slightly longer snout which is less common, called Forcipiger longirostris. The easiest way to identify them if they only have one species in your LFS is the eye,

The big nose butterfly (Longirostris) has a fully darkened eye. Most you see are the flavissmus variant, well here in the UK you do, most likely because the Longirostris lives in deeper waters.

Dwb5 · Sep 23, 2016

Ok thanks. I belive it is the (Longirostria) I saw it last week there but now I'm out of town. Which one is more likley to eat my corals?

becks · Sep 23, 2016

The flavissimus is more likely to pick at acans, brains and clams etc. The longirostria is pretty reef safe...but as always fish are fish.

My only regret is not buying two from my lfs.

Dwb5 · Sep 23, 2016

Really u like them that much? Any pics of them?

becks · Sep 24, 2016

I like them because they are an unusual shape, very peaceful and mine has been easy in that he ate from day one. I'll get w pic when I get home from work.

Paul B · Sep 24, 2016

Very nice fish and very common. I too this on Bora Bora. I have had them for many years and never had a problem touching corals. I even keep them with copperbands.
Worms and clams is all they need and they can eat plenty of them. I never have a problem getting any fish to eat but I think that is because my system is very natural and I feed natural foods. "Almost" no commercially prepared food.