Butterfly Feeding?
- Thread starter shrub125
- Start date
small triggers
Active Member
which butterfly? some are coralivores and should not attempt to be kept, the ones listed on this site that you could keep it would be easiest to get some kind of marine mixture of frozen food, usually sold in cubes, you thaw it in some tank water, then strain out the water and feed the fish the mix...or you could do your own and buy some clams, put them in a blender and VOILA!! Just make sure anything you buy to feed you fish is fresh and not cooked...
shrub125
Member
I'm pretty sure my mom wouldnt be fond of my putting clams in her blender.. but the butterflies i'm interested in are:
-Copperbanded
-Eclipse
-Panda
-Threadfin
-Yellowhead
I'm only looking to get 1 butterfly, and i'm interested in any of these.
Is it possible to buy frozen clam cubes or something?
-Copperbanded
-Eclipse
-Panda
-Threadfin
-Yellowhead
I'm only looking to get 1 butterfly, and i'm interested in any of these.
Is it possible to buy frozen clam cubes or something?
nicetry
Active Member
Many of the captive butterflies will eat a variety of foods commonly available. You can buy packaged frozen clam at a well stocked lfs or purchase fresh whole clams from a grocer. Mysis, pellets, flake, occasional bloodworms, minced scallop, squid and mussel are also good. Many will devour nori so add this to the diet.
Skip the panda and copperband. (Poor captive choices). For a hardy bf, look at Blackback, pearlscale, mertens, pebbled, burgess, kleins.
Skip the panda and copperband. (Poor captive choices). For a hardy bf, look at Blackback, pearlscale, mertens, pebbled, burgess, kleins.
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by Shrub125
http:///forum/post/3197760
Thankyou, this information helped so much, i'm thinking of getting the threadfin.
If your profile is current: I'd never put any butterfly in a 45 gal tank. A Threadfin can easily reach 8-9". The threadfin is a fairly easy and quite bold fish---for a butterfly. Butterflies do not tolerate stress well and cramped space = stress. On the feeding question; they are very easy fish to feed-- a varied diet of the usual carnivore foods and occasional vitamins. The Blackback is a smaller fish and also not too difficult---for a butterfly; but, IMO, a 45 still is too small.
http:///forum/post/3197760
Thankyou, this information helped so much, i'm thinking of getting the threadfin.
If your profile is current: I'd never put any butterfly in a 45 gal tank. A Threadfin can easily reach 8-9". The threadfin is a fairly easy and quite bold fish---for a butterfly. Butterflies do not tolerate stress well and cramped space = stress. On the feeding question; they are very easy fish to feed-- a varied diet of the usual carnivore foods and occasional vitamins. The Blackback is a smaller fish and also not too difficult---for a butterfly; but, IMO, a 45 still is too small.
browniebuck
Active Member
I would strongly suggest that you ask your LFS (if you are getting one locally) if they can order one and hold it for a couple weeks. I would then check on it a few times, ask to see it eat (watch what they feed it), and THEN purchase it.
I just bought a long nosed butterfly that had been in a coral tank in my LFS for at least 3 weeks, looked healthy, and I got to watch it eat. I am feeding it a butterfly/angel frozen cube...he is a PIG!!!
I just bought a long nosed butterfly that had been in a coral tank in my LFS for at least 3 weeks, looked healthy, and I got to watch it eat. I am feeding it a butterfly/angel frozen cube...he is a PIG!!!
srfisher17
Active Member
Originally Posted by Shrub125
http:///forum/post/3199450
Okay, and for the blackback, how fast will that grow, and how big. I currently have a 45, but in a year, i plan on upgrading to a 90 or a 120, will this be okay for the butterfly? AND, is there any butterflies that are okay for a 45g aquarium?
Blackbacks are smaller butterflies and could live in a 45; although I still think a 45 is too small for any butterfly. But, just what I (or anyone) think isn't law and you can sure try it and it may do well. Another small, hardy butterfly I'd look into: Klein's Butterfly. I went through a real butterfly phase and still keep a few. I think the two mentioned are as good as any for a 1st butterfly in a small tank.
http:///forum/post/3199450
Okay, and for the blackback, how fast will that grow, and how big. I currently have a 45, but in a year, i plan on upgrading to a 90 or a 120, will this be okay for the butterfly? AND, is there any butterflies that are okay for a 45g aquarium?
Blackbacks are smaller butterflies and could live in a 45; although I still think a 45 is too small for any butterfly. But, just what I (or anyone) think isn't law and you can sure try it and it may do well. Another small, hardy butterfly I'd look into: Klein's Butterfly. I went through a real butterfly phase and still keep a few. I think the two mentioned are as good as any for a 1st butterfly in a small tank.
ophiura
Active Member
Many people "plan on" a bigger tank and it never works. So it is a disservice to the fish. If you are getting one, then it should not be hard to wait a year. Besides, it can be stressful for fish to transfer systems. So I personally would wait until you have the other tank, for sure.
The difference might be in existing stocking. If you have really nothing else in the 45, then it might be an option. But I have a 45g with a coral beauty and two clowns, and it is pretty cramped. I wouldn't add a butterfly, even short term. so what other fish do you have now?
The difference might be in existing stocking. If you have really nothing else in the 45, then it might be an option. But I have a 45g with a coral beauty and two clowns, and it is pretty cramped. I wouldn't add a butterfly, even short term. so what other fish do you have now?