Racoon Butterflyfish

Andrew D · Nov 18, 2019

I know these aren't reef safe, but do you think one would be OK in my anemone tank, full of bubbletips, carpets and long tentacles? Oh, and lots of aiptasia which along with his cool looks is the reason I want to put him in there ;)

ndrwater · Nov 18, 2019

Personally I wouldn't, but we can get more eyes on this @eatbreakfast

av8soulfly · Nov 18, 2019

Most flies love picking on anemones. Don't do it. Especially 'Coons.

mborn · Nov 18, 2019

I’ve had my racoon butterfly in my reef for over 5 ½ years and it’s been a model citizen. Doesn’t touch any corals (SPS/LPS) or my BTA’s, but they host a tomato clown so that may be why. I originally got mine for Aiptasia control, but it didn’t touch them. The only invert it ever went after was a feather duster worm. Although, different fish have different personalities so I may have gotten lucky with it not harming my reef. As far as Aiptasia control, Berghia nudibranchs were very effective for me. It took a couple of months for them to grow and build up a breeding population, but after that they completely eradicated them from my tank.

av8soulfly · Nov 18, 2019

I still think 'flies are best in a fowlr tank.

Andrew D · Nov 19, 2019

Thanks everyone. I like my nems too much to take a chance. I've added about 6 berghia's over the past 3 months but they haven't made a dent, at least not yet. I'm worried that the fish I have in there (5 clowns, remnant of a clutch of 14), a tomini and yellow tang) may have eaten them. I'll take a picture of my aiptasia carpet tonight when the lights come on.

eatbreakfast · Nov 20, 2019

If the anemones have clowns they should be safe.

Andrew D · Nov 20, 2019

Here are some pictures of my 100G nem tank, plumbed into an 800G mixed system. First a picture under daytime whites which shows the aiptasia carpet I'm trying to get rid of and then a few under blues which show the cool colours of the varying bubbletips...