Tahiti Butterflyfish experience?

[acroholic]

Saw this posted as a natural aiptasia control. Anyone used one or have any experience to share? Not bad looking and not too expensive either.

 

[lilrobb]

These butterflies, as with most others are not safe for reefs, as they use the coral polyps as a primayr food source.

 

[acroholic]

From LiveAquaria: "Reef Compatible: With Caution" So who to believe?

 

[crewdawg1981]

That'd be cool! I wish more of the butterfly species was reef compatible as there are so many good lookin fish in that family. I wish the threadfin or racoon were a go...

 

[shrimpy brains]

Sorry, I have no experience with this fish, but I am interested, based on the article. Reef safe 95% of the time is pretty good. I am sure I have fish in my reef that are a higher risk than that!
Of course, I'm very sure, I don't have a third of the corals you do!

Anyway, tagging along for more info!

 

[crewdawg1981]

Shrimpy Brains;567150 wrote: Sorry, I have no experience with this fish, but I am interested, based on the article. Reef safe 95% of the time is pretty good. I am sure I have fish in my reef that are a higher risk than that!
Of course, I'm very sure, I don't have a third of the corals you do!

Anyway, tagging along for more info!

Ha! No kidding right. I've had a flame and three pygmy angels that were supposedly reef safe...

 

[acroholic]

In reality, it is probably more of a risk than I would take. So much of this is dependent on how much you feed, the personality of the fish, and what type corals you have in the tank.

 

[smoothie]

PM panda about it

 

[acroholic]

I use Reef Napalm to control the aiptasia in my 150 and it works great, but in reality you never get them all because you can't get the ones under/behind rocks or anywhere else that you can't reach manually. So these inaccessible ones eventually reproduce, and new ones take root in different spots.

 

[shrimpy brains]

I agree with the risk being too great! This fish did just go on the possible candidates for my soon to be fish only!

For aptaisa control in a reef, I think, the best bet is peppermint shrimp and they are sometimes a little risky!

 

[geno]

Dave,

Don't know anything about this particular butterfly -- however, I did the old school approach and added a copper banded butterfly over a year ago. I no longer need the Aiptasia-X. Admittedly, it took some time -- but I'm guessing even the ones I can't see must be gone or staying hidden :up:

My CBB is doing well -- but will ONLY eat mysis!

 

[cr500_af]

Acroholic;567146 wrote: From LiveAquaria: "Reef Compatible: With Caution" So who to believe?

I've noticed that you have to have a seriously "problem" fish before LA will list it as non-reef safe.

 

[rtackett]

I have had a tahaitians in my reef several months ago. Reef is LPS, clams and zoas. The tahiatians did great and did not touch any of the corals. I ordered these from bluezooaquatics.com and they have had experience with these so I would suggest giving them a call to discuss.