The Butterfly Lover's Thread

[Michael Hughes]

no added at different times.

Which one did you add first?

I checked out the stocking list on your build thread and saw a multibar angel on there as well. Any issues between these two butterflies and the multibar?

 

[Jasonak]

Which one did you add first?

I checked out the stocking list on your build thread and saw a multibar angel on there as well. Any issues between these two butterflies and the multibar?

No sir
I have juv emperor and a adult blue face and the blue face does chase my emp but that the only issue I have in my tank, well actually my sailfin tang chases around my mooroish idol and some of the other tangs but nothing serious.

 

[jasonrusso]

My racoon butterfly. Amazing fish. Fit right in and didn't take any stuff from anyone.

 

[JumboShrimp]

That's a nice size Raccoon... mine is getting there.

 

[jasonrusso]

That's a nice size Raccoon... mine is getting there.

He grew fast once he got in the big tank. Even when he was smaller, he just got right in there during feeding time.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I have FOWLR . Can’t tell you which are safe with corals . Went with black backed which seem very brave and boisterous . But they sure run from the red collar Pakistani . He is the boss of them . They all make way for the juvenile blue face and the 9in emperor angelfish I plan on more Pakistani in the future .

Love my Pakistan Butterflyfish. Even though my blueface angel is my biggest fish and the boss of the tank, the Pakistan is the peace maker and always gets in between any fish squabbling and breaks it up. He /she is also my biggest butterfly. I have tried adding a couple more but after 6 never making it out of QT I gave up on adding more. Had for 7 years now

 

[JumboShrimp]

Beautiful looking fish!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Well, the 4 butterflies in my 240 are doing well and growing fast! The kleini has more than doubled from the tiny 1" fish we started with! Currently have a kleini, threadfin, copperband, and yellow longnose. I did prazi, formalin baths, and TTM with these instead of cupramine and they did much better than previous butterflies I've quarantined. The XL UV sterilizer on the display seems to help as well with keeping them healthy, and honestly I really feel like having all the corals in the display and macroalgae in the sump helped add a lot of bacterial diversity and has made the whole tank healthier overall. Also added a new skimmer, which has made a huge difference!

They completely ignore Acropora, Montipora, Seriatopora, Galaxea, Gorgonians, and the anemones (bubbletip hosted by the Allard's pair and clarkii pair, and purple beaded hosted by the same 4 clowns). I tried a Pocillopora and a Stylophora and the Kleini stripped them of polyps in a couple days. The maculosus angel in here eats zoas, palys, xenia, etc so didn't attempt those again, and the clowns killed the Euphyllia loving them too much. I'm gonna add a few more bubbletips to the far end of the tank, but they should be protected because the tomato clown pair and lightning maroon clown would also like their own anemones.

 

[code4]

@Fishfreak2009 beautiful fish.

 

[Utubereefer]

Hey butterfly lovers I need some advice. Getting 2 copperband butterflies shipped in next week. Currently they are eating arthropods and have made been through a rigorous qt process. I’ve had them before with but only kept one alive for 2 years. Since then I haven’t had any luck longer than 6 months. I would love some advice from the butterfly crowd.

I’ve heard to try stuffing mysis in broccoli

I have the mastic balls

I plan on ordering pods for a while until they transition.

 

[Utubereefer]

Just found this

Personal Experience  Article 'Reef Wizard’s guide to a Happy, Eating Copperband Butterfly'

Reef Wizard’s Guide to a Happy, Eating Copperband Butterfly First, I’d like to point out that this is by no means a one-size-fits-all method. There are plenty of ways to get this fish eating — this is just what has worked for me. That said, I’ve used this method several times myself, and...

• Reef Wizard
• Jul 13, 2025
• 4 min read
• Reaction score: 18
• Category: Saltwater Fish

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Hey butterfly lovers I need some advice. Getting 2 copperband butterflies shipped in next week. Currently they are eating arthropods and have made been through a rigorous qt process. I’ve had them before with but only kept one alive for 2 years. Since then I haven’t had any luck longer than 6 months. I would love some advice from the butterfly crowd.

I’ve heard to try stuffing mysis in broccoli

I have the mastic balls

I plan on ordering pods for a while until they transition.

Honestly they usually do well so long as they aren't overly skinny, have a damaged mouth, Uronema, velvet, a high fluke burden, or with super aggressive tankmates. Sounds like a lot, but an initially healthy specimen really goes a LONG way towards success with this species.

 

[code4]

My husband ordered a Pyramid from Live Aquaria last week. I told him we probably wouldn't get it since they had claimed bankruptcy. If was a Divers Den. So when it didn't arrive I was not surprised. Last night we received notice it was shipped. Still wouldn't believe it until I saw it. Well it arrived. Looks good so far. Will post photo later.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Well, the copperband will now eat mysis from my hand, right in amongst all the other fish. Even pushes in alongside the maculosus. Amazing the difference finding an initially healthy specimen makes! For reference, the copperband is between 5-6" long, so you can see just how brave she is to go in and compete with the beast of a maculosus angel.

All 4 butterflies eat like pigs, the kleini has more than doubled in size, and they completely ignore Acropora, Montipora, gorgonians, and the anemones (I'm assuming since the clowns guard those well).

Kleini does devour Pocillopora (found that one out within 48 hrs of the frag being in there).

 

[Tcook]

@Fishfreak2009 Did you get that CBB online? Pre-quarantined?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

@Fishfreak2009 Did you get that CBB online? Pre-quarantined?

Found it at my LFS. Spent 2 weeks there before I brought it home and did formalin baths, TTM, and prazi. Just came in excellent shape compared to what I normally find locally.

 

[code4]

@Fishfreak2009 Did you get that CBB online? Pre-quarantined?

bought mine online. Came in shy. Put it in my 40 gallon tank with one other small fish. Got lucky he was healthy.

 

[code4]

Doing well this morning in qt with chloroquine phosphate. Eating. Will wipe down all glass and pvc and ornamental house every 2 days. Change filter and do small water changes. Added bio media into hob filter from established tank. Will check nitrite and ammonia daily. This tank has been set up for about a month. Has a large bubbler in it also

 

[gabriellar]

Has anyone tested whether yellow longnose butterfly fish nip at mushrooms, goni, or torches?

I've got some cheap LPS and softies in my quarantine tank as a test, and so far the longnose hasn't touched anything. Curious whether anyone has seen one pick at corals, and if so what set it off — hunger, tank size, a specific coral, or just individual personality?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Has anyone tested whether yellow longnose butterfly fish nip at mushrooms, goni, or torches?

I've got some cheap LPS and softies in my quarantine tank as a test, and so far the longnose hasn't touched anything. Curious whether anyone has seen one pick at corals, and if so what set it off — hunger, tank size, a specific coral, or just individual personality?

Shouldn't touch those as a general rule, though you may get the individual that will. They're more interested in the tube feet of starfish and urchins, tridacnids, and meaty corals like Acans, and real fleshy LPS with weak stings like scoly and welso, especially after those LPS have been fed.