butterfly with deteriorating beak

[krishj39]

I just bought a dot-dash butterfly a few days ago. I noticed yesterday that he has a problem with his beak. The top part of it is white and looks like it is deteriorating. Any ideas on what I can do? He is still very healthy looking otherwise, and eating well. The wound isn't fuzzy like a fungus, in fact the reason I didn't notice it was because I just thought that type of butterfly had a white beak. However, it is definitely not supposed to be that way, and it looks a worse today than when I got him. All water parameters are good, I'm sure the fish came in with it. Any ideas? Sorry no pic, don't have a digital.

 

[beth]

The reason that butterflys have "beaks" is because they use it to get into crevasses to pick at food. I don't know what type of rocks you have, or the availability of food you have in the rocks, but it could well be that the fish is fishing too hard for food where the supply for food just isn't there.
There is a food grid that is sold in the hobby made just for butterfly's delicate little "beaks". I'd suggest you try it.
These feeders only hold gelatin based frozen foods, which is most frozen foods. Alternatively, you can try other types of floating food dispensers or even sticking some food in crevasses for the butterfly.
Food grid for butterfly: