Need Info on Butterflyfish - Aquarium Advice

Lance M. · 02-01-2005, 03:50 PM

Butterflyfish look like really cool surface dwellers, but I've read that they will eat small fish. I went to my [acronym:dea39abb28="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:dea39abb28] and asked the owner about them and he said that he's never seen them eat small fish or attack anything, but that they might eat fry and stuff like that. He also said he keeps them in his pond outdoors during the summer. I just wanted to know if anyone has had any problems with these fish?

Also would they go ok with other surface dwellers- like hatchet fish or pencilfish- or would the butterfly's be aggressive towards them?

Xtremez · 02-01-2005, 04:14 PM

There are too many species and each one is unique.

http://species.fishindex.com/search.php?p=butterfly -- this will cover all of them with full detail.

good luck

Toirtis · 02-01-2005, 04:51 PM

The fish in question is Pantodon buchholzi. These guys get reasonably large (4"), and have a primitive, trapdoor-type mouth, and will merrily swallow anything small enough to fit, so long as it gets close to them. They are also jumpers extrordinaire, so a good, complete tank cover is neccessary. Aside from being oppotunistically predatory, they are quite peaceful, and you must keep them with fish that will not chew off their long lower fin rays.

Fruitbat · 02-01-2005, 05:30 PM

I have three Pantodon buchholzi right now and I've kept many of them in the past. They are distant relatives of the arowana (with the same 'trapdoor' mouth that Toirtis alludes to). They are strictly surface feeders and will not take anything that sinks more than a couple of millimeters below them. I've had great success with these fish by feeding them San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze-Dried Plankton because these little freeze-dried 'shrimp' float on the surface for quite some time. My Butterfly Fish will also take tiny pieces of shrimp and beef heart from my fingertips.

They like a tank with some floating plants but also plenty of open swimming area at the surface. They hang out in the plants and then go 'hunting' in the open area. Males can be aggressive with each other.

Here's one of mine:

-Joe

lyquidphyre · 02-01-2005, 06:30 PM

I read that they can be aggressive towards any other surface dwellers like hatchets and will eat anything that fits in their mouth

tetrin · 02-01-2005, 10:51 PM

amazing pic fruitbat... :P

Lance M. · 02-02-2005, 08:54 AM

Great pic Fruitbat. What are the plants in the pic? Thanks for the info guys.

Fruitbat · 02-02-2005, 11:26 AM

The plants are Water Sprite which I keep growing (floating) on one end of the aquarium those fish are in. Darned stuff grows like a weed! I have to throw away buckets full of the stuff every month or so.

-Joe

Nippyfish · 02-02-2005, 05:08 PM

Wow Joe, your fish is just beautiful.

chrism · 02-03-2005, 07:52 AM

freshwater contest winner i'd say

02-01-2005, 03:50 PM	#1
Lance M. Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,189	Need Info on Butterflyfish Butterflyfish look like really cool surface dwellers, but I've read that they will eat small fish. I went to my [acronym:dea39abb28="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:dea39abb28] and asked the owner about them and he said that he's never seen them eat small fish or attack anything, but that they might eat fry and stuff like that. He also said he keeps them in his pond outdoors during the summer. I just wanted to know if anyone has had any problems with these fish? Also would they go ok with other surface dwellers- like hatchet fish or pencilfish- or would the butterfly's be aggressive towards them?

02-01-2005, 04:14 PM	#2
Xtremez Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 18 Images: 3	There are too many species and each one is unique. http://species.fishindex.com/search.php?p=butterfly -- this will cover all of them with full detail. good luck __________________ 75 gallon fresh water 76 temprature Eheim 2215 Filter 1.5 inches of gravel 5 plastic plants and 2 dead corals

02-01-2005, 04:51 PM	#3
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	The fish in question is Pantodon buchholzi. These guys get reasonably large (4"), and have a primitive, trapdoor-type mouth, and will merrily swallow anything small enough to fit, so long as it gets close to them. They are also jumpers extrordinaire, so a good, complete tank cover is neccessary. Aside from being oppotunistically predatory, they are quite peaceful, and you must keep them with fish that will not chew off their long lower fin rays. __________________ 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.

02-01-2005, 05:30 PM	#4
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	I have three Pantodon buchholzi right now and I've kept many of them in the past. They are distant relatives of the arowana (with the same 'trapdoor' mouth that Toirtis alludes to). They are strictly surface feeders and will not take anything that sinks more than a couple of millimeters below them. I've had great success with these fish by feeding them San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze-Dried Plankton because these little freeze-dried 'shrimp' float on the surface for quite some time. My Butterfly Fish will also take tiny pieces of shrimp and beef heart from my fingertips. They like a tank with some floating plants but also plenty of open swimming area at the surface. They hang out in the plants and then go 'hunting' in the open area. Males can be aggressive with each other. Here's one of mine: -Joe __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

02-01-2005, 06:30 PM	#5
lyquidphyre Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: McKinney, Tx Posts: 2,860 Images: 21	I read that they can be aggressive towards any other surface dwellers like hatchets and will eat anything that fits in their mouth __________________ Have cats? Check out AA's sister site designed for our feline friends

02-01-2005, 10:51 PM	#6
tetrin Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: State College, PA Posts: 655 Images: 11	amazing pic fruitbat... :P __________________ pisces - be in peace 75g : Malawi 40g breeder: Planted community 29g : SA(change of plans...again) 20g : community ("given" to a friend)

02-02-2005, 08:54 AM	#7
Lance M. Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,189	Great pic Fruitbat. What are the plants in the pic? Thanks for the info guys.

02-02-2005, 11:26 AM	#8
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	The plants are Water Sprite which I keep growing (floating) on one end of the aquarium those fish are in. Darned stuff grows like a weed! I have to throw away buckets full of the stuff every month or so. -Joe __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

02-02-2005, 05:08 PM	#9
Nippyfish Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: DC Posts: 70	Wow Joe, your fish is just beautiful. __________________ Creator of Nippyfish.net

02-03-2005, 07:52 AM	#10
chrism Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK South West Posts: 269 Images: 1	freshwater contest winner i'd say

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