Butterfly Fish
- Thread starter oak
- Start date
mr. limpid
Active Member
Not tring to be rude. But butterflies are very hard fish to keep, need at least year old tank, large, and plenty of live rock. If you are only 3 weeks into the hobby is then sound like your tank hasn't even cycled yet. IMO start out with hardy fish there are plenty beutiful hardy fish this site has a list of beginners fish. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of salt water fish.
oak
Member
I am positive it has cycled. It took a week to cycle and by three weeks I meant of keeping fish so the tank has been up for about a month. I also knew they were difficult to keep but I do not know why they need a mature tank with alot of live rock. It is also an aquaculted specimen so I think it is hardier and I also think it is feeding on frozen or manufactured food. Oh and thanks for the welcome.
petjunkie
Active Member
Pretty sure that there are no aquacultured butterflies but either way I would not add one to a new tank as it will take you a while to get your tank stable and you proficient at saltwater keeping, they need very good water conditions and some can be quite impossible so if you decide to get one down the line make sure you do research into the species care. They are not a beginner fish, more appropiate might be clownfish, gobies or blennies more depending on the size of your tank.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Oak
I didn't think so either and my Ammonia Nitrates and Nitrates are zero. I think it was one of the hardier species but I do not know the name yet and will find out tomorrow.
The name of the fish will certainly help determine it's requirements. You should know that butterflies do not do well in unestablished aquariums. Butterflies are natural grazzers and will pick at the algae on your rocks all day long. They do require a tank that is at LEAST 8 months old. How much LR do you have and what sized tank do you have?
I didn't think so either and my Ammonia Nitrates and Nitrates are zero. I think it was one of the hardier species but I do not know the name yet and will find out tomorrow.
The name of the fish will certainly help determine it's requirements. You should know that butterflies do not do well in unestablished aquariums. Butterflies are natural grazzers and will pick at the algae on your rocks all day long. They do require a tank that is at LEAST 8 months old. How much LR do you have and what sized tank do you have?
oak
Member
myrtle beach
Member
I would say the tank size is more important than how old it is. As long as it's eating at the LFS and you think it has enough room, go for it. 12g is a bit small, I'd go with a clown, firefish, goby, fish that don't mind small tanks.
petjunkie
Active Member
Do not put a butterfly in a 12 gallon! It doesn't matter how small it is that will not be a good home for it, pick something that is a bottom dweller or percher, an active swimmer is not a good idea it will stress the fish horribly and possibly lead to disease and stunted growth. It's not very smart to buy fish on the assumption of setting up a tank "someday". Buy fish that will fit in your size tank please not one that may or may not happen down the line. A 55 or 75 is the smallest I would put a small butterfly in.
oak
Member
Originally Posted by petjunkie
Do not put a butterfly in a 12 gallon! It doesn't matter how small it is that will not be a good home for it, pick something that is a bottom dweller or percher, an active swimmer is not a good idea it will stress the fish horribly and possibly lead to disease and stunted growth. It's not very smart to buy fish on the assumption of setting up a tank "someday". Buy fish that will fit in your size tank please not one that may or may not happen down the line. A 55 or 75 is the smallest I would put a small butterfly in.
Okay thanks but does anyone know about the double saddle butterfly ?
Do not put a butterfly in a 12 gallon! It doesn't matter how small it is that will not be a good home for it, pick something that is a bottom dweller or percher, an active swimmer is not a good idea it will stress the fish horribly and possibly lead to disease and stunted growth. It's not very smart to buy fish on the assumption of setting up a tank "someday". Buy fish that will fit in your size tank please not one that may or may not happen down the line. A 55 or 75 is the smallest I would put a small butterfly in.
Okay thanks but does anyone know about the double saddle butterfly ?
nicetry
Active Member
The link that was posted had a lot of good info. Not sure what else you're looking for. It's a relatively hardy butterfly, but still needs a good sized, mature system. Your tank is not suited for any butterfly given it's size and the short time it has been established. No butterfly is a good beginner fish.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Oak
Well it is 12 gallon with 30 pounds of live rock. I have a 30 gallon I am setting up and it will be ready in about a week except for the cycle. In about 4 or 6 months I definetly probably have a 50 gallon or larger set up. About a year in a half from now I will probably have a 100 gallon or larger set up. I also think I might wait on getting the butterfly for 10 months or longer after I set up the 30 gallon and by then I my 50 would be near 6 months old. At least if all this works out as planned. The manager at the petstore said they get 6" and for a 100 gallon minimum for an adult. By the time it is that big I might have a 200 gallon set up but this mainly depends on the growth rate.
Please do NOT buy any butterfly at all until you actually have the 100 gallon. ALL butterflies need mature LR and plenty of room. A double saddleback needs a minimum of a 75 gallon tank.
Please do NOT buy any butterfly at all until you actually have the 100 gallon. ALL butterflies need mature LR and plenty of room. A double saddleback needs a minimum of a 75 gallon tank.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by Oak
Okay thanks.
You are welcome. With the 12 gallon you are limited in what you can buy right now. Please be patient. When you upgrade you will be able to get larger species of fish.
Okay thanks.
You are welcome. With the 12 gallon you are limited in what you can buy right now. Please be patient. When you upgrade you will be able to get larger species of fish.