Butterfly fish - Aquarium Advice

dobby · 06-09-2004, 07:41 PM

Hi everyone!

i was thinking about getting a butterfly fish for my tank, but am a bit worried about feeding him..(her!

) Will they accept flake food as a staple food, or do they require special treatment?

Also, will they fight with my betta over territory? As my betta often likes to take a break from swimming around the tank by hanging around his favourite corner at the top..

Thanks!

bunebop · 06-09-2004, 07:44 PM

I don't recommend it. Butteryfly fish are usually pretty agressive... and since bettas need to go to the stop a lot and are territorial themselves... you're betta will prolly end up a gonner. =/ That's my opinion though. They would definatly fight over territory.

Max Action · 06-10-2004, 06:01 PM

Mine accepts flakes readily, but I feed him lots of freeze-dried bloodworms and some live bugs as well. I have no idea how it would get along with a betta though - mine is not aggressive toward the tiger barbs or blind cave fish that often feed alongside it at the surface. Very very cool fish!

madasafish · 06-10-2004, 06:36 PM

Yeah, Bettas and Butterflies occupy the same niche in the tank--just below the surface. They're both designed to get prey from the surface of the water.

I wouldn't risk it.

06-09-2004, 07:41 PM	#1
dobby Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 11	Butterfly fish Hi everyone! i was thinking about getting a butterfly fish for my tank, but am a bit worried about feeding him..(her! ) Will they accept flake food as a staple food, or do they require special treatment? Also, will they fight with my betta over territory? As my betta often likes to take a break from swimming around the tank by hanging around his favourite corner at the top.. Thanks!

06-09-2004, 07:44 PM	#2
bunebop Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 250 Images: 12	I don't recommend it. Butteryfly fish are usually pretty agressive... and since bettas need to go to the stop a lot and are territorial themselves... you're betta will prolly end up a gonner. =/ That's my opinion though. They would definatly fight over territory. __________________ Ashley ~12-13 [acronym:3831520aa0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:3831520aa0] [acronym:3831520aa0="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:3831520aa0] hex w/ 4 female bettas and a recovering black skirt tetra ~55 [acronym:3831520aa0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:3831520aa0][acronym:3831520aa0="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:3831520aa0] ~6 zebra danios (I think, haven't seen some in a while), ~7 black skirt tetras, 1 clown pleco, 1 cory cat, 3 pit bull plecos, 1 baby guppy in a breeders net, and 1 red minor tetra I also have a couple other tanks w/o fish as right now I do not have the room/time and there is a chance of moving in the "near" future so I don't want to get more fish for them. I'm downsizing for the moment.

06-10-2004, 06:36 PM	#4
madasafish Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NY, NY Posts: 2,260 Images: 73	Yeah, Bettas and Butterflies occupy the same niche in the tank--just below the surface. They're both designed to get prey from the surface of the water. I wouldn't risk it. __________________ [acronym:3ff24413a5="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:3ff24413a5] is a blessing, not a disease.

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06-10-2004, 06:01 PM	#3
Max Action Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 15	Mine accepts flakes readily, but I feed him lots of freeze-dried bloodworms and some live bugs as well. I have no idea how it would get along with a betta though - mine is not aggressive toward the tiger barbs or blind cave fish that often feed alongside it at the surface. Very very cool fish!