Somewhat reef safe butterfly fish?

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I would really like a butterflyfish for my reef tank and I was wondering what ones would be the best candidates for a 93 gallon cube? I have softies, sps, and lps.

 

[Humblefish]

Butterflies from the genus Hemitaurichthys (better known as Pyramid Butterflyfish) are considered the most reef safe. Some have had success with Copperbands & Longnoses, but those will usually still eat clams and I wouldn't trust them with zoas.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Would they be fine in a 90 gallon?

 

[jt17]

The fish will be fine, some of your corals not so much. I added a copper banded to my 155 to help with Aptasia. Once he devoured all the feather dusters then he took care of the Aptasia. After the apts were gone he discovered delicious acans then a delectable canthophyllia then my juicy cynarinia. I relocated the corals but damage was done. They are cool fish but their instinct is to hunt all day long. Mine is well fed but still constantly hunts.

 

[Big E]

My Muelleri Copperband hasn't touched any corals in 10+ years,,,,,,,Sps, zoa, acan, Lps, chalice, ect. or any host anemones. He eats all smaller worms and dusters.

I've never kept the large ornamental worms and he nipped at a clam I put in my tank so I'd say no on clams.

 

[Humblefish]

Would they be fine in a 90 gallon?

I looked it up on LA and they are saying 125 gallon minimum; but I'll give you special permission to add one to your 90 gallon. :xd:

Seriously, they don't do laps around the tank like tangs. Most butterflies are slow, deliberate feeders that spend most of their day picking at rocks. The biggest challenge to keeping them is obtaining a specimen that eats (this is especially true with Copperbands.) They also don't do well with aggressive tank mates (even tangs sometimes), or fast eaters who can out compete them for food. But size wise, I say your 90 gal is fine for housing one specimen. Pyramids are overall easier to keep, less likely to nip at your corals, so that's the one I would recommend for you. :wink:

 

[Reef_Obsessed]

Every fish has a different tempermant. You may get one that never touches a coral or you may get one that devastates your reef, even if it says they are reef-safe. If you value your coral, it is not worth the risk. Avoid the temptation!!!

 

[Triggreef]

So far my copperband has not touched any coral at all. I have a little of everything as far as corals, and quite a bit of the normally complained about picking at corals (acans, zoas, lps, sps). I also have a longnose in qt that is not touching any corals in there (Observation qt, I keep corals but don't med in there aside from prazi). My cbb has only been in my display a week or so but he didn't mess with any corals in the qt observation tank either.

I have no clams but I will be trying one. I don't think it will be an issue since I tried to get them to eat some clams on the half shell (frozen prepped fish food type) and they never went for it at all.

Downside is I have to relocate all my tangs because they don't mix well with the butteflies. I will be starting over with smaller tangs after the butterflies are established.