are these reef safe?

[sign guy]

are these reef safe
The Heniochus Butterfly, a.k.a. Bannerfish, is a gorgeous high profile fish with an elongated dorsal fin. These fish are white with a pair of black bands and a bright yellow tail. They are a schooling fish and do well when kept in groups of three or more. The Heniochus should be kept in a tank large enough for them to swim freely.
The family of Butterflyfish get their name from their behavior of fluttering around the reef. These fish typically have rather round and thin bodies. They are very colorful and some have extended snouts which they use to reach worms entrenched in the reef.

 

[skywatcher]

This is what I found on another site.
Soft Corals and most Invertebrates should do fine with the Heniochus, but it may likely decimate Stony Corals, as they are a part of its natural diet.

 

[sign guy]

hmmm I should be able to put three of these in my 180 leather tank I think
thx

 

[matt819]

I did a lot of research because my fish store had one really cheap one time. I found only one person said they were ok in a reef. Most say they'll pick at EVERYTHING...I didn't do it anyways, but if you wanna try...let me know how that goes, cool looking fish. There's actually two different species that look almost identical...you can distinguish them by the bars in relation to their lower fin. It's something having to do with that. One is safer than the other...LFS commonly confuse the two, be careful. Google it...

 

[sign guy]

are you refering to the morish idiol?

 

[sign guy]

cuz this guy will die in our tanks

 

[jmrents]

Hi sign guy,
Most likely the one you'll see in your LFS is going to be
like the one sold here at SWF.com, the Heniochus Acuminatus, or
Long-fin Bannerfish, and they are not considered a reef safe fish.
Though they might not pick at everything in your tank, they will
eat most soft corals and clams, along with anything else they deem
desirable.
The Schooling bannerfish, or Heniochus diphreutes, which is very similar
to it's cousin, and described by Fenner, "may be distinguished by the possession of an additional dorsal ray, a shorter snout, and a more pointed, shorter anal fin."
I do know these are considered reef safe by most hobbyist, and I saw 3
large H. diphreutes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium just last week in a very
large coral reef tank they have on display.
These fish get big, and you need lots of room for them to roam, I would
suggest a tank of over 125 gallons but that is probably too small, unless you
have only a few fish.
Incredible fish though, and hard to find, good luck and hope this helps.

 

[imurnamine]

I want a heniochus SO badly...
I plan on making my 72 a reef, though... and plus, I would hate to put them in such a small tank...

 

[sign guy]

I had no idea there were two banner fish thx for the heads up!

 

[wellsi]

In my experience I have also seen them get very aggressive toward there other tank mates.

 

[yeffre kix]

Its hit or miss on reef safe. I had a school of three I my tank and only one of them would pick at my polyps. Everything was fine then within a week he ate all my zoo's.
They were very healthy, ate like total pigs! By far the most beautiful, entertaining fish I've ever owned, but I wouldn't trust them to be reef safe.
Just my 2 cents

 

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by sign guy
I had no idea there were two banner fish thx for the heads up!
yes, as jmrents points out, Heniochus is the Genus name, this genus has many different, seperate species, the term Bannerfish also refers only to the genus, not to the species.....schooling bannerfish is a common name used for the species H. diphreutes...it is generally the one that is considered the most reef safe of the genus......but as Kix said, hit or miss.

 

[sign guy]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
yes, as jmrents points out, Heniochus is the Genus name, this genus has many different, seperate species, the term Bannerfish also refers only to the genus, not to the species.....schooling bannerfish is a common name used for the species H. diphreutes...it is generally the one that is considered the most reef safe of the genus......but as Kix said, hit or miss.
so would you do it if you were me?

 

[dogstar]

I dont know your system but if I had a large enough tank and could place about 5 in it and did not have anemones and featherdusters or other butterflies I would...But I would make sure they were H. diphreutes

 

[yeffre kix]

They are great fish! Just monitor them for reef tanks. IMO you will eventually have problems with them eating corals. I am tempted to put some more in my new reef tank when its up and running because they were such a hit with everyone who saw my tank. It's a tough call.

 

[fishgeek01]

I have a friend that has one, it eats all of his aptaisia anemones. It cleaned about 150 lbs of lr of aptasia in about 5 days, and it was a pretty heavy mess of them. It then proceded to devour his xenia, and anthelia polyps. He decided then to take it out and trade it at the local lfs

 

[jmrents]

I considered getting these beauties myself and had my LFS try to
find the H. diphreutes. After many unsuccessful attempts at
getting the right bannerfish, I decided not to try.
You would want to get a few fish and they would have to be the right size,
not too small yet not large either, so you could acclimate them to your
reef without them wanting to eat most of your prized corals.
It is a chance, even with many other fish, you take your chances when you
place a fish in your tank with SPS, LPS, crabs, shrimp, etc.
I have a few tangs that still take nips from my star polyps, and clean
a little too well around my open brains.
You cringe, but inevitably you make the most of it and enjoy the wonders
inside your tank, I know I sure do.

 

[supermanvx]

I hate to say this but i am also confused...I was looking at getting a trio of these little guys. But now that i am told there are two, diphreutes is what everyone seems to be saying make sure to get...so if i were to get the acuminatus, they are more of a loner fish? and also they would eat away the corals in my tank? correct? Seems it is going to be a little harder to find these guys, if they both look the same..im not sure if i go to my LFS and im like...do you have a trio of diphreutes, they wouldnt kno what im talking about...perhaps i can say the bannerfish that are reef safe?

 

[dogstar]

Lets play NAME THAT FISH............. :thinking:
Heres just 5 different species of Heniochus. There are more than 5......

 

[sign guy]

good lord ......Im in over my head
I have only seen the first one witch one is he?