Butterflies starving?

[our gang]

Hello all, I got 2 butterflies last thursday and I'm not sure what to feed them. I've tried bloodworms, frozen foods and flakes. They ignore the fish food and heep picking at the rocks. Are they getting enough or do I need to do something else? They are both only about an inch long and the tank is a 150.

 

[jenni620]

i got some frozen angel and butterfly mix, and i also add in a little mysis. it has worked so far. have you tried soaking the food in garlic? that might work too...good luck.

 

[dawman]

What were they fed where you bought them ? I always ask what the fish has been eating and ask the breeder or LFS to feed them for me to see how the fish react .

 

[our gang]

Originally Posted by Dawman
What were they fed where you bought them ? I always ask what the fish has been eating and ask the breeder or LFS to feed them for me to see how the fish react .
didn't think to ask, I'll call the place I bought them today to find out. The store is definately not local (1 1/2 hrs away), The kids they have getting the fish for you probably wouldn't know anyway. (VERY LARGE pet store) I think they just work part time for extra money. Will try to reach one of the marine biologists they have working there.

 

[mscarpena]

most butterflies are not good for aquarium life. Most only eat sponges or soft corals. Get something that is specifically designed for butterflies that have sponges. Also do some research on your specific type of butterflies to see what they eat in the wild.

 

[our gang]

all it says on this site is clam and all the site says that I bought the fish from is it accepts many foods.

 

[nicetry]

What species of butterfly is it?

 

[our gang]

one pearlscale and one racoon

 

[nicetry]

Originally Posted by our gang
one pearlscale and one racoon
These two will normally accept a pretty wide variety of foods. Try some finely minced clam or mussel which you can purchase in frozen form from a good lfs or fresh from a market. Mysis shrimp are okay. THey will also eat greens so clip some nori in the tank. Formula One pellets are another suggestion. You can also put some fresh clams in the shell right in the tank. Rinse them off firts and crack them open a bit and see if the fish go after them.
They are really small specimens and these can be difficult to feed. Continue with a variety of foods and be sure they are not being bothered by other fish. What all else is in the tank? You say you have corals? The fish may well eat these before picking at prepared foods. Neither of these bf's is considered reef safe.

 

[our gang]

Originally Posted by nicetry
These two will normally accept a pretty wide variety of foods. Try some finely minced clam or mussel which you can purchase in frozen form from a good lfs or fresh from a market. Mysis shrimp are okay. THey will also eat greens so clip some nori in the tank. Formula One pellets are another suggestion. You can also put some fresh clams in the shell right in the tank. Rinse them off firts and crack them open a bit and see if the fish go after them.
They are really small specimens and these can be difficult to feed. Continue with a variety of foods and be sure they are not being bothered by other fish. What all else is in the tank? You say you have corals? The fish may well eat these before picking at prepared foods. Neither of these bf's is considered reef safe.
I'll try mysis, the lfs doesn't have any clam. I looked for some yesterday. I don't have corals. I'm going to keep this tank FOWLR. I'm going to get a 180 or 220 for corals. That's after I get more experience under my belt. Only been doing aquariums for a little over a year and a half. I never thought of getting fresh clams. Thanks for the idea.

 

[ophiura]

Do they have clams at your grocery store? Many respond well to fresh cracked open clams.

 

[our gang]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Do they have clams at your grocery store? Many respond well to fresh cracked open clams.
I'll find out in a little while. I've been told that if the butterflies don't eat it the chocolate star will love it.

 

[our gang]

the racoon butterfly is eating the clam, but the pearlscale is not. he's hiding in the live rock. staying towards the bottom. it's like he's dug out a bed in the sand behind the rock. I hope he'll be ok. Thanks for the idea of a clam from the grocery store.

 

[cam78]

How long do you leave the clam in? Do you have to cut it up or anything? I'm sure the hermits will love it too right?

 

[reefreak29]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Do they have clams at your grocery store? Many respond well to fresh cracked open clams.
i was just about to say that, as for the other one try to soak some mysid in garlic that enticed my cbb to eat

 

[our gang]

I have left a clam (on the halfshell) in for a few hours now. The racoon butterfly is eating it along with the maroon clown. The pearlscale keeps looking at it from the edge of the rocks but wont leave the rock. I think he'll come out soon enough. I'll only leave it in there until tomorrow morning. Unless you think that is too long. The clam is almost half gone as it is.

 

[our gang]

pearlscale dead this morning, thanks anyway. water parameters are
amm.-0
nitrite-0
ph-8.2
nitrate-20
what did I do wrong?

 

[nicetry]

Originally Posted by our gang
pearlscale dead this morning, thanks anyway. water parameters are
amm.-0
nitrite-0
ph-8.2
nitrate-20
what did I do wrong?
Not quarantining these fish is very risky. They can be reluctant feeders to begin with so allowing them to settle in a quiet, isolated environment can help them start eating. They were also very small specimens, many of which fail. Try to get fish in the 3-5 inch range. They're hardier and usually more willing to eat.
Pearlscales, IME, are not one of the better choices. Some do well. I think more don't. Not sure what else was in the tank, but if the fish was hiding a lot, it may have been frightened or stressed.