Punctato Butterfly

kevin5500

kevin5500

Member
I recently purchased a Punctato Butterfly fish and I read that it requires a diet of clam. I went to my local pet store and they don't have any clam. Can anyone recommend another type of food for this fish or can you tell me where I might get some clam? Does it usually come frozen or freeze dried and which is best? Thanks to anyone who can respond!
Kevin in

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ncacura

ncacura

Member
Most butterfly's will be fine with brine shrimp, as most fish. They also eat algae a lot. Usually it's written that they eat clams so that you know that you usually can't have a butterfly and a clam. They don't want you to lose a 100$ clam for a 50$ fish.
 
N

nereef

Guest
Originally Posted by ncacura
Most butterfly's will be fine with brine shrimp, as most fish.
butterflyfishes, as most fish, will certainly not be fine with brine shrimp. mysis shrimp and a couple frozen formulas would be a good start. as for seafood: clam, mussel, shrimp (as long as it is uncooked). this can be found, as stated above at certain grocery stores.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by NEreef
butterflyfishes, as most fish, will certainly not be fine with brine shrimp. mysis shrimp and a couple frozen formulas would be a good start. as for seafood: clam, mussel, shrimp (as long as it is uncooked). this can be found, as stated above at certain grocery stores.
Agreed. Butterflies need a variety in their diet including meaty foods.
Brine shrimp, from the consensus of most experts, is nutrionally deficient.
 
ncacura

ncacura

Member
i disagree i've had a butterfly for 2 years and fed it nothing but brine shrimp as well as have algae sheets in my tank, and the fish is healthy and i've never had a problem with it.
 
kevin5500

kevin5500

Member
Thanks for all of your replys. He has been eating the brine shrimp and some flake food. I bought some canned minced clam at the grocery store and it says on the can that it is only calm in it's natural juices. I hang peices to a clip on the side of the tank and he has been "picking" at it. Do you think this canned clam is safe? Thanks again!!
Kevin -

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nicetry

nicetry

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kevin5500
Thanks for all of your replys. He has been eating the brine shrimp and some flake food. I bought some canned minced clam at the grocery store and it says on the can that it is only calm in it's natural juices. I hang peices to a clip on the side of the tank and he has been "picking" at it. Do you think this canned clam is safe? Thanks again!!
Kevin -

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Don't give fish canned foods. They have preservatives in them. Buy some fresh clam at a market. Mince it up and feed. Offer mysis, mussell, plankton, pellets, things like Marine Cuisine and Emerald Entree. The clam and mussell should be available at a well stocked lfs. I'm in agreement that brine shrimp is not a good staple diet. It is pretty much like candy and not nutritious.
 
nicetry

nicetry

Active Member
Originally Posted by ncacura
i disagree i've had a butterfly for 2 years and fed it nothing but brine shrimp as well as have algae sheets in my tank, and the fish is healthy and i've never had a problem with it.
The algae sheets are probably the better of the two. Brine is not a good staple food. You don't really know the fish is healthy from a dietary standpoint. These problems often don't show up for several months or more. Do the fish a favor and offer it a better diet.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by ncacura
Most butterfly's will be fine with brine shrimp, as most fish. They also eat algae a lot. Usually it's written that they eat clams so that you know that you usually can't have a butterfly and a clam. They don't want you to lose a 100$ clam for a 50$ fish.
I agree with the algae.Brine shrimp is not very nutritious and doesn't really make a good staple food. Mysiss is better. There is a frozen angel&butterfly diet and fresh clam is great. Clam is also available in frozen cubes. Depending on your other tank residents; Formula I and II (frozen) would also be good choices.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by ncacura
i disagree i've had a butterfly for 2 years and fed it nothing but brine shrimp as well as have algae sheets in my tank, and the fish is healthy and i've never had a problem with it.
I respect your success however that doesn't address the issue.
Butterflies need a varied diet including meaty foods.
 
kevin5500

kevin5500

Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
I respect your success however that doesn't address the issue.
Butterflies need a varied diet including meaty foods.

Mine has been eating the flake food and frozen brine. He also snacks on the algae sheets from time to time. Is this sufficient or does he need something else in his diet immediatley?
 
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nereef

Guest
the fish won't get sick today from this kind of diet. it's not that urgeant. i would at least replace the brine with mysis and add some kind of seafood.
 
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