Butterflies in the reef: who has experience with a tinkeri o

[Tanu]

Hi all,

I'm trying to shift the borders of reef-knowledge a little by doing some experiments in my tank.

For example, I have experienced that the orange spot file fish (Oxymonocanthus longirostris) can be kept in a sps reef with no problems, the only 'problem' is that the coral growth decreases a little and polyps of the acro's are only opened at night.

Next experiment will be trying out what happens when one adds a tinker or declevis to a full blown reef. Before I add one to my own reef, I just wanna know who has experience with these BF's? I know the prices are quite high and I've never seen a declevis here in Holland, but the tinkeri is available.

Who helps me out?

Thanx!

Tanu
www.tanu.nl

 

[Tanu]

Experiences with other butterflies are welcome too.. Just forgot to mention

Tanu
www.tanu.nl

 

[FMarini]

tanu:
The only people I see ever sell both those B'Fly species is www.themarinecenter.com randy is very knowledgeable about the species, and yes they are well into the 100's of $$$.
About the orange spotted filefish... you mention the polyps on your SPS only open at night, so does this mean that the filefish is not eating? I ask becuz these fish are consider obligate coralivores and suposedly only eat the fleshy tips of the certain SPS corals? Do you ever observe this fish eating?
I have no direct experience w/ either of these fish.
Just curous
frank

[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: FMarini ]</p>

 

[Len]

I saw a C.tinkeri that nipped at just about every benthic invertebrate in my tank (corals, clams, worms, etc.). I've also seen C.declivis and C.mitratus disturb corals LPS and soft corals (although they didn't seem to bother SPS).

Although butterflies of the subgenus Roa (Tinker's complex) are one of the safer Chaetonids for a reef tank, it's still a pretty big gamble, especially when you consider the price tags of these butterflies. Personally, I'd avoid butterflies and angels (with a few exceptions) in a reef.

 

[naesco]

Both of the butterflys can be kept. I have no experience with these but see www.wetwebmedia.com/Goodchaetodon.htm IMO, this article by Robert Fenner is the authority on keeping butterflys.

[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: naesco ]</p>

 

[Tanu]

FMarini: at the beginning, the sps also opened at day. The filefish still nipped at the polyps when they opened less at day. I sure saw it eating

but it also ate flake food and frozen food. Because I moved to another apartment, I gave him away.

As said, next try will be a BF.

Leonard: how much damage did the tinkeri cause?
What other butterflies (next to the CB and the longnose) do you recommend?

Tanu
www.tanu.nl

 

[Mouse]

Tanu,

Perhaps you might like to try the Hinochius Dephrutees, its allmost identical to Hinochius Accuminatus except its not an obligate polyop feeder and instead primarily feeds on Zooplankton but im sure as they get bigger you could wean them onto other things.

Im going to try this fish when i get my new tank set up. But thats probably about a million years away. I think they look really nice, like little remote controll fish.

My only real concern with BF's is not the SPS but the LPS. Im a little worried that allthough they dont feed on them a big jucy polyop waving around may be too much to resist.

P.S. to experiment on a tank like yours you have big balls my freind.

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>

 

[Len]

The C.tinkeri killed an Trachyphyllia sp. and harrassed most of my soft corals so they wouldn't open. I also noticed decreased polyp extension on all SPS corals, indicating it was probably irritating them too. The butterfly also consumed a large tube worm (Sabellid).

The only truly reef safe genus of Butterflyfish is Hemitaurichthys sp. (the Pyramid Butterflies). They are to Chaetonids what Genicanthus sp. are to Pomacanthids.

The Banner Butterfly (Heniochus diphreutes) is a pelagic zooplanktivore that does well in reef aquariums. Although some people suggest that H.diphreutes closest cousin, H.acuminatus, is not reef-safe, I've found they usually don't disturb corals either.

Other "iffy" fish of the subgenus Roa include C.burgessi and the very rare C.flavocoronatus (similiar to C.tinkeri, but endemic to Guam Is.).