Butterflies that are reef-safe

[akahoshi]

Hi all,

Want to put some butterflies in my reef tank and trying to find out which kind of butterflies are reef-safe.. I used to have a copperband butterfly in my reef tank that was TOTALLY reef-safe.. it didn't touch any coral at all, so i guess the first reef-safe butterfly would be the copperband.. like i said, this is just generally, a different copperband might have a different behavior..

Anyone else got any more butterflies that they think are reef-safe?

I know Moorish Idol is not a butterfly, but they are also reef-safe.. Hmm.. how about Yellow Longnose Butterfly? Or Facula Butterfly?? I have seen these two in reef tanks b4..

[pegasus1010]

pyramid angel are reef safe.

but it's quite rare in local lfs.

[veliferium]

hey,you want to kana flame iszit????

[bubble_gum]

pyramid angel are reef safe.

but it's quite rare in local lfs.

i have seen tones of pyramid butterflies at reborn late last year

if ur tank is big enuf... get a pair of watanabei angels

opps butterflies nt angels blur already

copperbands IMO are the most reefsafe butterflies

Edited March 2, 2005 by bubble_gum

[pegasus1010]

hey,you want to kana flame iszit????

u mean me?

who dare to flame me?

It's recorded in liveaquaria.com as reef safe, probably the only angel.

Yellow Pyramid Butterfly

(Hemitaurichthys polylepis)

The Yellow Pyramid Butterfly is also known as the Yellow Zoster Butterfly, and occurs in large numbers among the reefs of the Indian Ocean. The fins are yellow in color, and the body is mostly white. The white coloration forms a triangle with the yellow fins, lending it its common name. The head area is black helping these fish camouflage themselves in the wild. The Pyramid Butterfly feeds upon plankton in the wild, and is safe for reef aquariums.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_di...cfm?pcatid=1853

[akahoshi]

why kana flame? most people cannot deny the fact that copperbands and moorish idols are reef-safe... might as well add in the angels too, is the bicolor angel reef-safe?? what other butterflies are reef-safe!?

[cjh]

my new ti ko bi-colour angel does not even bother my coral but its interested in my coral beauty only... haha...

[FuEl]

Yellow longnose and copperband butterflies are reef-safe in terms of coral compatibility. Their snouts are designed to pick at small crustaceans like amphipods, small worms between small crevices. The only thing I can think of them disturbing with their snouts would be tubeworms. Other than that, clams, corals, shrimps (###### shrimps n small shrimp with caution) should be ok.

[akahoshi]

alright! yet another confirmation on reef-safe butterflies...

I think i'll add in an obvious one.. flame angel

here's the list so far (Butterflies and Angels)

1) Copperband Butterfly

2) Pyramid Butterfly

3) Watanabei Angel

4) Bicolor Angel

5) Yellow Longnose Butterfly

6) Flame Angel

Any one got more to add?.. I was thinking the lamarck angel, but no so sure, anyone can confirm?

[FuEl]

Oh yes, yellow longnose butterflies got 2 species. But look similar in coloration but the difference is in the snout length.