African Butterfly Fish

[Fella]

I've read few threads, and, after being spurred on by this months PFK mag, I'm very tempted by one of these.

Minimum tank requirements are 15 gallons, so I'm thinking that I might get one for the Multi tank (should the fish and I meet each others requirements).

I understand the multis are possibly small enough for the butterfly fish to consume. But, from what I can gather (and from the one I've seen in an LFS before now), they are very, very top dwelling fish. This sounds great, because in the multi tank, there is at the very least, half of the tank's volume being wasted. This is because the multis never leave their shells at the bottom of the tank.

So, I'm wondering if it would work. The PH in the multi tank is neutral, meaning their PH requirements would overlap. I've got the opportunity and the enthusiasm to plant the multi tank heavily (it was planted heavily until I moved the plants over into the puffer tank).

The downsides of course, are things like -

- The Pantodon is a predator, and consumes small fish. Multis are small fish. Multi fry, are small, small fish.

- Multis may take a liking to his long fins


So, can it be done? Has it been done? Who keeps these fish? I've only ever seen posts by people "thinking about getting one" rather than people who actually own one.

Many thanks

 

[Fruitbat]

Here's a link to an article I wrote based on my personal experiences with Pantodon buchholzi. You might find it interesting.

African Butterfly Fish Article

-Joe

 

[Fella]

Here's a link to an article I wrote based on my personal experiences with Pantodon buchholzi. You might find it interesting.

African Butterfly Fish Article

-Joe

Hey Joe,

I read the article and found it very inspiring, and what you have written has made it seem even more achievable than I previously thought. In your opinion do you think it would work out for me? And did yours ever venture toward the bottom of the tank when hungry?

C

 

[nmonks]

Hello,

I'm guessing the article was the "Five nearly perfect fish" one that I wrote for PFK. It's cool that you enjoyed it! I've kept all those fishes, so I was biased in choosing them.

My experiences of the African butterfly mirror those of Joe's. I wouldn't call them absolute beginners fish, but they're pretty easy to keep. I like to give them a variety of foods, bloodworms, squished bluebottles, mealworms, and so on.

My guess -- and that's all it is -- is that provided the cichlids aren't addicted to fin-nipping, they'll ignore the butterflies. Lamprologus stay at the bottom, while butterflies never leave to top. So, assuming they rarely meet, I don't think there's going to be much problem. The risk is really with things that swim close to surface, esp. at feeding time, e.g., guppies and danios.

Because butterfly fish don't actually do anything beyond look cool, you do need some tankmates. They're quite sociable, too, so try and get 2 or 3 specimens.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Fella]

Hello,

I'm guessing the article was the "Five nearly perfect fish" one that I wrote for PFK. It's cool that you enjoyed it! I've kept all those fishes, so I was biased in choosing them.

My experiences of the African butterfly mirror those of Joe's. I wouldn't call them absolute beginners fish, but they're pretty easy to keep. I like to give them a variety of foods, bloodworms, squished bluebottles, mealworms, and so on.

My guess -- and that's all it is -- is that provided the cichlids aren't addicted to fin-nipping, they'll ignore the butterflies. Lamprologus stay at the bottom, while butterflies never leave to top. So, assuming they rarely meet, I don't think there's going to be much problem. The risk is really with things that swim close to surface, esp. at feeding time, e.g., guppies and danios.

Because butterfly fish don't actually do anything beyond look cool, you do need some tankmates. They're quite sociable, too, so try and get 2 or 3 specimens.

Cheers,

Neale

Wow, I had no idea you had written that! I'm really glad you did, I'm currently eyeing up some BBG's as well because of the article . It was a great read!

I was fond of P buchholzi before but was simply terrified they'd munch everything in the tank, but now after reading how exclusively they are surface dwellers, they're much more appealing. As you've kept them before, I was wondering if you knew anything of their intelligence? I say that because I tried to keep a rubbernose plec with the multis (after reading that plenty of people had success with them) and he just brainlessly swam into their territories and got attacked, even though plenty of hiding places were arranged for him. I doubt the Multi's would try and do in the AB, but do you think it would have some kind of notion for where the territory may lie? I'm considering if needs be, moving the shells predominantly to one side, and placing a floating plant like duckweed on the other.

Also, how much room would be required for 2/3 specimens? I'm currently only on 15 gallons, but, I should be moving up to 30 after Xmas. I'm debating whether to put the puffer in the 30, or the multis.

Many thanks for the article and advice!

 

[nmonks]

Hello,

My guess is 15 gallons is a bit small for three specimens, but 30 gallons might be just enough. I'd personally be happier with 40 gallons, given that these fish do get fairly big, but so long as the 30 is fairly long you might be okay. Depth, remember, is unimportant. I doubt it'll matter where the territories of the lamps are... the butterflies will be way above them. I've got halfbeaks and rams in a tank together, and you see the same thing... the rams chase catfish and gobies, but ignore the halfbeaks entirely.

Couple of comments. First, these fish prefer neutral to acid conditions. I'm not sure I'd harden the water with shells and so on. A pH of 7.5 should be OK for both the lamps and the butterflies, but much more wouldn't be nice for the butterflies. If you wanted the ideal cichlids to keep with them, I'd look at rams, blockheads, even kribs. That sort of thing.

As for the pufferfish, it's risky. My South American is in a mixed community and basically doing fine, but some fish do show signs of being nipped. The halfbeaks and glassfish seem to be immune (too fast, I imagine) but the Corydoras do have nipped dorsals. South American puffers are, realistically, borderline community fish, and you'll find a lot of people recommend keeping them in a species tank. Giving the puffer 'lots to do' seems to help -- rocks, sand, plants, and fast moving tankmates all seem to occupy their minds and reduce the risk of bad habits. Like dogs, I suppose, they become bad mannered most easily when bored.

But I'd guess the long "feelers" on the butterfly might be a temptation. By all means try it out, but be prepared to move one or other species if problems occur.

Cheers,

Neale

Bumblebees are very cool fish, by the way. In a 10 or 15 gallon, you could have quite a colony. They aren't difficult to spawn, though the fry are very small and tricky to raise.

 

[Fella]

Yeah, my plans are as such

20 US gallon - 2 BBG's, 1 SAP. If I'm feeling really brave, I might get some Otos, but, thats a shelved idea for now. I'm a firm believer that Puffers aren't community fish, and I'll only keep fish that are proven to be successful with the majority of puffer owners.

15 US gallon - 3 Multis (1m 2f), 1 AB. This tank will then be upgraded to 30 Gallons in the new year, at which point I may consider another AB. I'm currently not keen to change over the multis to any other cichlids.

With regards to the PH, I manage to get Neutral results in the Multi tank. The Multi's don't mind the neutral, and as AB fish have neutral within their PH limits, that would make them a possibility for this tank, so it may well be all go.

Do you think the setup would be suitable?

 

[nmonks]

Personally, I'd hold back on the African butterflies until you have the bigger tank, and then go get three. They're much less shy when kept in groups. OK, they never really do much, but you don't want to have just one that hides all the time!

As for the South American puffer, I've never seen mine attack any of the fish, except once, a Rhinogobius goby. I'm inferring that the Corydoras have been nipped, but's just possible the Synodontis nigroventris are to blame. The bumblebees, glassfish, halfbeaks, Awaous flavus goby, and Panaque have never shown any signs of being attacked over the 8 months I've had them, while the rams seem to be left alone as well, though they're still relatively new.

I think Awaous, glassfish, and halfbeaks are just too fast to catch, provided there is enough space in the tank. No idea why the Panaque is left alone, possible because it's in a cave all day out of sight. My South American puffer is basically very well behaved, and right now is watching me from the tank, begging for more food!

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Fella]

Personally, I'd hold back on the African butterflies until you have the bigger tank, and then go get three. They're much less shy when kept in groups. OK, they never really do much, but you don't want to have just one that hides all the time!

As for the South American puffer, I've never seen mine attack any of the fish, except once, a Rhinogobius goby. I'm inferring that the Corydoras have been nipped, but's just possible the Synodontis nigroventris are to blame. The bumblebees, glassfish, halfbeaks, Awaous flavus goby, and Panaque have never shown any signs of being attacked over the 8 months I've had them, while the rams seem to be left alone as well, though they're still relatively new.

I think Awaous, glassfish, and halfbeaks are just too fast to catch, provided there is enough space in the tank. No idea why the Panaque is left alone, possible because it's in a cave all day out of sight. My South American puffer is basically very well behaved, and right now is watching me from the tank, begging for more food!

Cheers,

Neale

I'll most likely do that then. Only thing is, the store I saw the last guy in only had 1 in stock. I'll have to get them ordered I guess. I'll also, have to pray they're not going to cost me arm and a leg.

Yeah, my SAP is very odd. He's not even attacked any snails for a while (this is bad news), but I don't know how he would fair up against fish, and it's not something I really want to risk when I don't have spare tanks sat around for him to drop into if he's misbehaving. Which is a shame!

Advice I was given about SAP's if I really wanted them in a community was either have something too fast to catch, or something that will stand up to, but not attack the SAP. I think of them as a yappy terrier, which will get away with what they can until the victim growls back. I don't think anything consumes BBG's though right? The black and yellow warning colours make it great in that respect. How do you get on with your other gobies? No one really seems to talk about them, are they easy to look after, great personality fish etc? I went fishing in plymouth earlier this year and caught some fantastic SW gobies, they were full of character and were great looking fish, I got to observe them in rockpools. FW the same?

I think the only way I'll get an AB now is if I'm in a store and they happen to have one there, which is unlikely considering I've only ever seen one for sale. It'd be hard to resist though, for sure.

 

[Black Sabbath]

Hi, i too read your article and was pleased to see the African Butterfly in there as i am planning to get a few. The tank i was planning to put them in has quite a strong water flow due to the filtration, do they prefer calmer tanks to a strong current ? I assumed they would prefer a tank with a weaker water flow because of the way they tend to drift rather than swim ?

 

[nmonks]

What they do is tend to lurk in regions with still or slow moving water, and wait for food to come to them. So if you have a strong filter, you need to arrange the outflow of the water so that there is a 'pocket' of still water behind the spout. That should help. Alternatively, use a spray bar to reduce spread out the current. Inevitably, these fish seem to end up in the corners of the tank, so put some plants with long leaves there as well.

Cheers,

Neale

Hi, i too read your article and was pleased to see the African Butterfly in there as i am planning to get a few. The tank i was planning to put them in has quite a strong water flow due to the filtration, do they prefer calmer tanks to a strong current ? I assumed they would prefer a tank with a weaker water flow because of the way they tend to drift rather than swim ?