african butterfly fish - Aquarium Advice

nimbus46 · 02-19-2005, 11:41 AM

I am looking into getting a butterfly fish but here is my problem, I am soooo afraid that he will eat my little boys. The smallest fish I have is the White Clouds and my others are not much bigger. He will be going into a 100 [acronym:dc261951e5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:dc261951e5] tank. If I get the smallest that I could get, I think it will be ok for awhile, but how fast do they grow....anyone out there with some info???

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-19-2005, 12:12 PM

I don't have any info about them nimbus, but if you decide to get some butterfly fish, let me know how it turns out. I have been thinking of getting some but I haven't heard anyone talk about them before.

SerLunchbox · 02-19-2005, 12:15 PM

http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Ano...s_thomasi.html

Veneer · 02-19-2005, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerLunchbox

http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Anomalochromis_thomasi.html

"African butterfly fish" usually refers to Pantodon buchholzi, not a cichlid at all [it possesses closer affinity to the "bony-tongued" Osteoglossidae (namely, arowanas and pirarucu)].

**Fishyfanatic** · 02-19-2005, 01:18 PM

The African butterfly fish isn't a cichlid? Hmm. The [acronym:94cec4a76b="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:94cec4a76b] has them labled as Cichlids. The site that you referenced is what I was talking about Veneer in regards to my post. They truly are beautiful fish

nimbus46 · 02-19-2005, 02:22 PM

Went to my [acronym:04f6489d74="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:04f6489d74] expert and he said to feed the african butterfly fish live feed and that will keep him from seeing his tankmates as the local buffet. He also said that he has never had his eat his tankmates (variety of cichlids). I think I'm going to take the plunge and get him...I'll let you know the update in a few days.

Veneer · 02-19-2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishyfanatic

The African butterfly fish isn't a cichlid? Hmm. The [acronym:522415c4e7="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:522415c4e7] has them labled as Cichlids. The site that you referenced is what I was talking about Veneer in regards to my post. They truly are beautiful fish

To clear up any confusion over common names:

While Pantodon buchholzi is not a cichlid, Anomalochromis thomasi is.

Nimbus, which of the two do you have in mind?

Toirtis · 02-19-2005, 04:03 PM

I would wager we are discussing Pantodon buchholzi, not butterfly cichlids. That being said, although butterfly fish grow at a slower rate than many fish, even at 2½", they will be a potential threat to your white clouds and any other similar sized fish. Although the butterfly fish is unlikely to actively hunt the smaller fish (unless allowed to become hungry enough), anything small enough that ventures close to the butterfly is likely to be snatched up.

SerLunchbox · 02-19-2005, 06:25 PM

first of all ... my appologies ... i wasn't sure which one you were talking about to be honest. Sorry for the mis-information.

Second of all, i agree with Toirtis, The butterfly WILL hunt top swimmers if it is hungry enough, but it will remain fairly peaceful. Also, make sure you don't have many large openings in your tank top. This fish can and will jump very high.

KaiserFish · 02-19-2005, 07:39 PM

I had a butterfly for about a year and a half before he passed on recently. He never actively attacked anything that I saw, nor did he ever try to jump out of the tank when the lid was off for cleaning. He ate flake food and dried bloodworms, and pretty much any type of food that floated on the surface of the water.

He perished in what appears to be a fight with an angel, as both were found floating the next morning with severe wounds on each. Which is odd, since they'd lived peacefully together for over a year and a half.

02-19-2005, 11:41 AM	#1
nimbus46 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 16	african butterfly fish I am looking into getting a butterfly fish but here is my problem, I am soooo afraid that he will eat my little boys. The smallest fish I have is the White Clouds and my others are not much bigger. He will be going into a 100 [acronym:dc261951e5="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:dc261951e5] tank. If I get the smallest that I could get, I think it will be ok for awhile, but how fast do they grow....anyone out there with some info??? __________________ It's not the size of the fish, it's the attitude. 100 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: freshwater 2 green kissing gouramis, 1 red tail shark, 3 congo tetras, 3 australian rainbows, 1 rubberlip, 1 hippo, 1 green severum, 1 yellow severum, 2 german blue rams (pair), 3 giant danios, 3 silver dollars, 5 angels, 12 freshwater clams. 30 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: 6 white mollys, 3 rummy nose, 2 german blue rams (pair), 2 red swordtails, 2 golden swordtails, 1 handicap guppy. 20 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: fry tank of whatever (right now about 30 guppies and 100 white molly's. 10 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: 2 german blue rams (pair) 5 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: Basil the Betta, 2 african dwarf frogs

02-19-2005, 12:12 PM	#2
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,243 Images: 15	I don't have any info about them nimbus, but if you decide to get some butterfly fish, let me know how it turns out. I have been thinking of getting some but I haven't heard anyone talk about them before. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

02-19-2005, 12:15 PM	#3
SerLunchbox Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,526 Images: 1	http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Ano...s_thomasi.html __________________ Lunchbox ... "i'm a man, but i can change, if i have to, i guess" Tankless ... for now ... until i find what i really want (and what the wife lets me get!)

02-19-2005, 01:18 PM	#5
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,243 Images: 15	The African butterfly fish isn't a cichlid? Hmm. The [acronym:94cec4a76b="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:94cec4a76b] has them labled as Cichlids. The site that you referenced is what I was talking about Veneer in regards to my post. They truly are beautiful fish __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

02-19-2005, 02:22 PM	#6
nimbus46 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 16	Went to my [acronym:04f6489d74="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:04f6489d74] expert and he said to feed the african butterfly fish live feed and that will keep him from seeing his tankmates as the local buffet. He also said that he has never had his eat his tankmates (variety of cichlids). I think I'm going to take the plunge and get him...I'll let you know the update in a few days. __________________ It's not the size of the fish, it's the attitude. 100 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: freshwater 2 green kissing gouramis, 1 red tail shark, 3 congo tetras, 3 australian rainbows, 1 rubberlip, 1 hippo, 1 green severum, 1 yellow severum, 2 german blue rams (pair), 3 giant danios, 3 silver dollars, 5 angels, 12 freshwater clams. 30 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: 6 white mollys, 3 rummy nose, 2 german blue rams (pair), 2 red swordtails, 2 golden swordtails, 1 handicap guppy. 20 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: fry tank of whatever (right now about 30 guppies and 100 white molly's. 10 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: 2 german blue rams (pair) 5 [acronym:a562999231="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:a562999231]: Basil the Betta, 2 african dwarf frogs

02-19-2005, 04:03 PM	#8
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	I would wager we are discussing Pantodon buchholzi, not butterfly cichlids. That being said, although butterfly fish grow at a slower rate than many fish, even at 2½", they will be a potential threat to your white clouds and any other similar sized fish. Although the butterfly fish is unlikely to actively hunt the smaller fish (unless allowed to become hungry enough), anything small enough that ventures close to the butterfly is likely to be snatched up. __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

02-19-2005, 06:25 PM	#9
SerLunchbox Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,526 Images: 1	first of all ... my appologies ... i wasn't sure which one you were talking about to be honest. Sorry for the mis-information. Second of all, i agree with Toirtis, The butterfly WILL hunt top swimmers if it is hungry enough, but it will remain fairly peaceful. Also, make sure you don't have many large openings in your tank top. This fish can and will jump very high. __________________ Lunchbox ... "i'm a man, but i can change, if i have to, i guess" Tankless ... for now ... until i find what i really want (and what the wife lets me get!)

02-19-2005, 07:39 PM	#10
KaiserFish Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 132 Images: 3	I had a butterfly for about a year and a half before he passed on recently. He never actively attacked anything that I saw, nor did he ever try to jump out of the tank when the lid was off for cleaning. He ate flake food and dried bloodworms, and pretty much any type of food that floated on the surface of the water. He perished in what appears to be a fight with an angel, as both were found floating the next morning with severe wounds on each. Which is odd, since they'd lived peacefully together for over a year and a half. __________________ Quis Custodiet ipsos custodes?

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