Butterfly fish

[samthefishman]

anyone got any pics and info? i am thinking bout getting one.
please post something that will inform me of their diet, friends, foes and thing i need to know. And if you can include a pic would be good to

 

[CFC]

What butterfly fish are you talking about? The surface dwelling species Pantodon bucholzi or the south american dwarf cichlid Microgeophagus ramirezi or the african dwarf cichlid Anomalochromis thomasi ? Common names dont mean much im afraid

 

[samthefishman]

the one thats always on the surface.... and also why do they do that?

 

[CFC]

In that case this is in the wrong forum, African butterfly fish are not cichlids but are actually the only fish in the genus Pantodonidae, a family closely related to Osteoglossidae (arowana's). They live at the surface as their bodies have evolved to be highy efficient at catching and feeding on insects and small fishes which also dwell there. They should not be kept with any fish with a reputation for fin nipping, their long delicate finnage makes them a target for these types of fish and damage leaves them open to fungal infections.

There is additional information here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34968

 

[Ben]

lol CFC

showing off your smartness

 

[CFC]

 

[Dragonscales]

I've got a butterfly fish who doesn't float on top all the time, he used to but then I introduced a younger one to the tank who swam under the surface as much as he did above. Sadly he didn't live as my filter slipped and landed on the poor bugger grrrr. Ever since I put him in though the larger one has mimiced his behaviour and now spends as much time lower in the tank as well as on the surface. It puzzles me a great deal and leads me to think that there may be a bit more intelligence behind that gaping maw than some people put thought to.

Anybody else had a similar experince with these fish? It would be interesting to see some study into the behaviour and ability to adapt/learn of these fish.

 

[Dwarfs]

They et about four inches, won't tolerate other surface dwellers well. Wil eat smaller surface dwellers under two inches. They only eat floating food, but now flakes or sticks. Floating live bugs are good (crickets, moths, beetles) but I find the best food to be freeze dried krill, it will fill them up better than tiny bloodworms or freezedried brines shrimp They float on the top to get bugs! You also need a very tight cover over most of the tank, they can jump really far They like a few floating plants for cover, I used plastic ones for a while. Mine is nicely settled now, and is always the first one to food, new ones may be jumpy when you put your hand over the tank, so watch out incase they jump

 

[SirMinion]

Another name for the fahaka pufferfish is the Coral Butterfly.

Just thought I'd mention that as CFC was talking about various fish whose common name is butterfly.

 

[samthefishman]

well you wrong about the 4 inches. My friend had one that grew to about 7 inches, he actually had 2 of similar size. Also mine is about 5 inches already.... so i dont know where you got that from.
Yeah i have noticed they dont like flakes!!! How much insects/bugs do i feed him a day???

 

[Dwarfs]

well you wrong about the 4 inches. My friend had one that grew to about 7 inches, he actually had 2 of similar size. Also mine is about 5 inches already.... so i dont know where you got that from.
Yeah i have noticed they dont like flakes!!! How much insects/bugs do i feed him a day???

I got tha from about every site and magazine I read I think that's only including the body, but I'm sure they can grow larger in a larger aquarium Maybe a decent sized bug every day

 

[ryan]

Are you talking about Pantodon bucholzi?I never seen of or heard of a fish over 4-5" and this information is correct. If you are talking about this species I'd like to see a picture of these large fish, why is your not listed in your signature?

 

[samthefishman]

because he is new and i havent got around/cant be bothered doing it
How much bugs do i feed him a day? and what sort of bugs?

 

[samthefishman]

and about the fish i will take my digital camera to my mates this weekend.
they are both in a 270 Gal tank with ALOT of huge fish. Hes got alot of cool/weird fish. He also has acher fish, they are the coolest

 

[Dwarfs]

Crickets, moths, just about any bug that floats (and fits in their mouth). Be careful if you have pesticides on the grass/plants near you as the bugs may make your fish very sick if they've come in contact with pesticides