reef tank and butterfly

[acasden]

i have a 75 reef, my son would love a butterfly, but i am concerned about the yellow tang we have beating up on either a copperband or long nose, it dose not seem responsible to try these fish, any thoughts???

 

[ChrisRD]

I'll move this to the GRD forum where some more experienced folks will get a look at it...

 

[Anonymous]

I applaud your thoughtfullness.
I can answer no a few different ways on this.
First, a 75 gl tank is too small for both a Zebrasoma flavescens ( Yellow Tang ) and a Butterfly ( Forcipiger spp. or Chelmon spp. ).
Second, the Yellow Tang will more than likely harass the Butterfly to no end.
Third, none of the Butterflies are considered reef safe as they will munch on polyps, feather dusters, etc.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[fishfanatic2]

Forciper species are generally cosndiered reefsafe, so are pyramids, but there are exceptions. :wink:

 

[Len]

Some deepwater forcipers may be reef safe (if you don't mind not having any worms and other mobile inverts), but IME they are generally not reef safe. Pyramids are and there are a few species that are sometimes reef safe (depending on the specimen's "personality"), but more often then not, stay away from butteflies in a reef. I think the tang will beat up the butterfly pretty badly in the first few weeks; I agree with David that you shouldn't have both in a 75g. I recommending just sticking with the tang.

 

[EmilyB]

I keep a couple butterfly fish in a 230g full clam/sps reef.

My concessions have been to lose the LPS and softies for the most part. I feed them some xenia from another tank for a treat. :lol:

Keeping fish like this in a reef is a trade off, but I have found that my particular two don't make an impact. I don't think I'd try it in a smaller tank tho.

Depending on what you keep, or decide to do, the blackback ( Chaetodon melannotus) is a nice small butterfly - make sure to get one that is eating. Mine has always been with a yellow tang with no problems. Keep in mind my tank is larger and most of my livestock has been here 3-5 years. The tank is super-skimmed as the fish are fed LOTS.

 

[Anonymous]

No matter what anyone or any site sez about the subgenus Roa, in my experience they are NOT reef-safe. I had a mitratus that was good for 6 months, then targeted my big frogspawn.

Peace,

Chip

 

[acasden]

thanks for all the feedback, obviously some differences of opinon, i will avoid it for now

 

[Dude]

ACASDEN I agree with davidmohr. A Zebrasoma flavescens ( Yellow Tang ) should not be in a 75 unless they are small but need to be moved when they gt around 3.5-4 inch diameter. A friend of mine who is a really well knowledgeable marine person has kept Chelmon rostratus (copperband b'fly) CAN be kept in a reef tank primarily or softies, with some LPS, a few types of SPS. I would not put them in with a clam they will kill that though. Hope this helps ya out.