Yellow Longnose Butterfly Fish

[wunderlong88]

What will Yellow Longnose Butterfly Fish eat in a reef tank? Wondering what is at risk? I only have inverts and soft corals.

Also, if I add one can I add a Pyramid Butterfly at a later date? Or possible 2-3 Pyramid Butterflies, if I decide I have room.

Thinking of adding in the future - 2 ocelleris clowns, flame hawkfish, leopard wrasse, melanurus wrasse, yellow watchman goby and mandarin goby. (I may trade in the Foxface in future if I need the space)

My current setup:
I have 180 gal (6'x2'x2'), live rock, sand, black widow anemone, gorgonian, soft corals, cuc.
Line Spot Flasher Wrasse
Maldives McCoskers Flasher Wrasse
Dusky Wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby
Starry Blenny
Purple Firefish
Coral Beauty Angel
Bicolored Foxface

 

[Jasonak]

I have one in my SPS dominant tank and its doing great and dosent harm any of my corals, Ill see it picking in them every now and then but I just assume its eating a pod or something. I cant say about the pyramids. No experience with them.

 

[lapin]

What will Yellow Longnose Butterfly Fish eat in a reef tank? I only have inverts and soft corals.

My current setup:
I have 180 gal (6'x2'x2'), live rock, sand, black widow anemone, gorgonian, soft corals, cuc.
Line Spot Flasher Wrasse
Maldives McCoskers Flasher Wrasse
Dusky Wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby
Starry Blenny
Purple Firefish
Coral Beauty Angel
Bicolored Foxface

Looks like you have more than some soft corals

The coral beauty might kill any butterfly fish . Could be aggression or keep them from eating

 

[wunderlong88]

Looks like you have more than some soft corals

The coral beauty might kill any butterfly fish . Could be aggression or keep them from eating

Sorry that wasn't clear. I meant that I thought might be at risk, as opposed to sps and lps.

 

[wunderlong88]

Looks like you have more than some soft corals

The coral beauty might kill any butterfly fish . Could be aggression or keep them from eating

Oh, had no idea the dwarf angel could be an issue. :-(

 

[wunderlong88]

Ok, I think we've decided to skip the Butterflies altogether after more research. We are going to exchange our Bicolor Foxface for the Foxface Rabbitfish that is more yellow with the black and white face (not One Spot). Almost looks the same at least in color as the Longnose Butterfly with fewer issues.

If we have room after adding what we know we want might add a Purple Tang and/or White Tail Tang for statement fish (along with the Foxface which I perceive as a statement fish)

 

[Paul B]

I have been keeping Long Nose Butterfles and diving with them since the 70s.

In he sea they eat tiny living creatures especially worms that they pull out of crevice's with their tiny, long beaks.

In a tank they will eat anything small and meaty. I feed them tiny pieces of clam and mysis. The best food and what I give mine every day along with that stuff mentioned is live white worms.





You can see some whiteworms here. You buy a culture on Amazon for about $15.00 and they grow forever in a box of soil. You feed them bread and yogurt.



They can live without the worms but If I did not grow whiteworms, I would not keep these fish.

 

[wunderlong88]

I have been keeping Long Nose Butterfles and diving with them since the 70s.

In he sea they eat tiny living creatures especially worms that they pull out of crevice's with their tiny, long beaks.

In a tank they will eat anything small and meaty. I feed them tiny pieces of clam and mysis. The best food and what I give mine every day along with that stuff mentioned is live white worms.





You can see some whiteworms here. You buy a culture on Amazon for about $15.00 and they grow forever in a box of soil. You feed them bread and yogurt.



They can live without the worms but If I did not grow whiteworms, I would not keep these fish.

Thank you so much for your response. I do have white worms growing after reading your posts about them. Also buying clams and shopping them up to feed all of the fish. I have been trying to pattern my system and we've keeping upon your principles. Appreciate all that you have contributed and your help. Thank you

 

[Paul B]

Then your longnose should be very happy but it's hard to see them smile due to their really small mouth.

 

[gabriellar]

Why is white worm the best food? Does it provide some nutrients that mysis and clams cannot provide? Or is this more for providing a natural habitat for the longnose?

 

[Paul B]

Whiteworms like all live food provide living gut bacteria which all creatures need for immunity.
They also have no artificial ingredients like dry foods but I am sure they are missing some important nutrients so I would also feed other things like shellfish.