Download Reef App on Google Play or App Store. It should not be kept in a reef tank since it will eat invertebrates and is deemed unsafe with corals. Not to be confused with Chaetodon lunulatus, the oval butterflyfish. Raccoon Butterflyfish - Reef safe? Reef-associated species, like the raccoon butterflyfish, have a broad diet and prey on different kinds of soft-bodied invertebrates. Always reef safe: No sources indicate that this species will harm corals or other invertebrates. Always reef safe: No sources indicate that this species will harm corals or other invertebrates. When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding. This species sometimes nibbles at clams including Tridacna species. Unless you have a really large tank, you should avoid keeping them with other butterflys because they can become territorial. Yellow and black with a raccoon-like mask. What they have in beauty, however, they often lack in compatibility and so must be chosen with care. In this episode, we discuss the most noticed fish in our tank, the Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish. A larger tank might be needed for fully-grown specimens. Therefore it is important to choose the correct species in relation to the corals wanted, if one desires to keep Butterflyfish in a coral-aquarium.Bristleworms, tubeworms and other small invertebrates are also a part of the diet for many Butterflyfish. Some species doesn't handle transportation very well, but that doesn't mean that the species isn't hardy under the right conditions. Our partners can also use these cookies and data like IP-address for personalized advertisement. This species likes to nibble at sea urchins. The bulk of reef inhabiting species that make their living eating off corals as well as frightening would-be butterfly enthusiast. 2004. The Raccoon Butterflyfish is generally not considered reef safe, because it likes to pick at corals and eat certain invertebrates. The Raccoon Butterflyfish is a peaceful fish that may reside in a 70 gallon or larger fish-only aquarium with other butterflyfish. Butterflyfishes; Separating the Good Ones and Those You Don't Want - Wet Web Media - (English)Collection of links to additional information - Wet Web Media - (English)Tea Yi Kai. But occasionally one finds an individual fish which refuses to eat them. Regardless of resemblance, it is important to be able to distinguish them, as in some cases they vary greatly in their needs. The Raccoon Butterflyfish is peaceful with other fish outside its species. They are closely related to Angelfishs, but can always be distinguished, as they lack the spines on each side of the head of the Angelfish. Often reef safe: Only a few aquarists has reported problems keeping this species with corals and other invertebrates. (If you're seeing this message, you haven't met them yet.) Reef Fishes. For the raccoon butterflyfish, the typical habitat includes coral reefs from one to 60 m in depth (Pyle 2001). In this case, a "normal" aquarium is a reef aquarium with mixed corals or a fish only aquarium with an approximately salinity of 1.026 (sg) and a temperature close to 26°C.Species requiring more than a 4000-liter tank are considered not suitable for home aquarium. A smaller group of these fish will seek out primairily soft corals, like Zoanthus. I would love to get rid of the mushrooms. REEF Headquarters | P.O. We use cookies to personalise functions and advertisement. Prices and download plans . This species must be fed with an appropriately varied diet. This fish requires feeding several times a day, especially when newly added. Reef Central Online Community Archives > Marine Fish Forums > Reef Fishes: Raccoon Butterflyfish - Reef safe? I got the beginners pack from Liveaquaria.com, Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the. When first acquired, if it will not eat, it may be tempted with a small anemone. If you spot the raccoon butterflyfish on our Maui snorkeling tours, it will usually be traveling in pairs or aggregations in shallow reef flats, but Scuba divers can see them in waters as deep as 75 feet.It is often seen during the day, but has also been found to be active at night. Reef safe with caution: This species may be a threat to some types of invertebrates. They are also not reef safe since they will nip at and eat soft corals and stony polyps as well as ornamental shrimp, tube worms and anemones. One should however be cautious about keeping similar species together unless they are a couple. This species prefers seaward reefs and shallow reef flats of lagoon, at a depth of over 30 m. In the aquarium. The Raccoon Butterflyfish is a peaceful fish that may reside in a 125 gallon or larger fish-only aquarium with other butterflyfish. Not reef safe: This species is a threat to most corals and/or other invertebrates. Some species of the Chaetodon genus are grouped together in what is known as a "complex", since they are so very similar. The raccoon butterflyfish is generally not aggressive towards other fish, with the exception of lionfish and triggerfish. In Moorea (French Polynesia), the raccoon butterflyfish was found to be ubiquitous and distributed regularly across the reef, including the fringing reef … Corallivores have a specialized diet of coral polyps or mucus, and these species often maintain territories. The largest genus of butterflyfish, and the most widespread, is the genus Chaetodon. Make sure to check that they do not have parasites or any visible infections. Florent's Guide To The Hawaii Reefs - Raccoon Butterflyfish - Chaetodon lunula - Butterflyfishes - - Butterflyfishes - Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, Australia, French Polynesia - Welcome to ReefCentral. - Wet Web Media - (English), Scott W. Michael. Often reef safe: Only a few aquarists has reported problems keeping this species with corals and other invertebrates. They ignore most other fish and are generally peaceful, therefore multiple Butterflyfish will have no problem living together. I only tried a few corals once. The Raccoon Butterfly Fish can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) so you will need a fairly large (55 gallon, 208 liters) tank to keep one. A shoal of raccoon butterflyfish in the wild Housing Some sources put minimum housing for this species at 75 gallons, but I would err on the side of a bigger tank—more along the lines of 100 to 125 gallons minimum. Feed a varied diet of small meaty foods, as well as other commercially frozen preparations. Raccoon butterflyfish are omnivores and feed on a variety of foods ranging from algae, tubeworms, nudibranchs, coral polyps and small benthic crustaceans. Do they eat sps? If your Raccoon Butterflyfish is reluctant to feed, place a smaller anemone in the tank as it is difficult for them to resist eating them. Diet should include a variety of mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, spirulina, nori, seaweed, marine algae, and algae based foods, 2-3 times daily. Corallivorous Butterflyfishes… For Aquariums? Subgenus Chaetodontops (includes the Raccoon Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, the Pakistan Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare, and 7 more species: C. auripes, C. fasciatus, C. flavirostris, C. nigropunctatus, C. reticulatus, C. semilarvatus, C. wiebeli). Corallivorous Butterflyfishes… For Aquariums? In the wild, they feed in pairs or small groups and feed mainly on various invertebrates, coral polyps, and algae. Provide lots of live rock for grazing and shelter spots for the Raccoon Butterflyfish. In the wild, Hemitaurichthys spp. It can be problematic, with many of these species, to get them eating in the beginning, but many of the species cannot resist live zooplankton or live mussels with crushed shells. Eggs are tiny (<1 mm) and embryos hatch about 30 hours after fertilization. Reef safe. This species is not neccessarily aggresive, but it has a greater tendency towards aggresion then other species of the same genus. Like other butterfly fish, it lives around the coral reefs, and is ideally shaped to poke into crevasses for invertebrates to eat. Butterflyfish in Your Reef?! This species revels in swimming and requires an aquarium with ample space. Provide plenty of hiding places to help make your Raccoon Butterfly feel secure. For the raccoon butterflyfish, the typical habitat includes coral reefs from one to 60 m in depth (Pyle 2001). One often sees nudibranchs with missing rhinopores and the Raccoon Butterflyfish is a probable culprit. Special aquariums may cover tanks with low salinity, sub-tropical temperature, deep sand bed, sea grass etc. School of Raccoon Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, along coral reef at Kahalu‘u Beach Park in the Kailua-Kona area of the Big Island of Hawaii, USA Reef Nuggets 2: Aquatic Lepidopterans for your reef (Revised edition) - Reef Builders - (English), © Kasper Hareskov Tygesen (me@klabbe.net). This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks. It should not be kept in a reef tank since it will eat invertebrates and is deemed unsafe with corals. Sometimes there are just small differences in colour or pattern, but in other instances it is vital to know where the fish originally come from. Butterflyfish show pair fidelity and are territorial, so although they a… It has a black bar down its face and another down the posterior of its body and fins, with yellow on its fins and a yellow tail. Reef safe with caution: This species may be a threat to some types of invertebrates. In captivity, the typical lifespan of a raccoon butterflyfish … Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 3), Butterflyfishes; Separating the Good Ones and Those You Don't Want, Collection of links to additional information, Reef Nuggets 2: Aquatic Lepidopterans for your reef (Revised edition), East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Indonesia, East Pacific, Central/West Pacific. Why is a Raccoon Butterflyfish - Chaetodon lunula not a reef safe fish? 2014. Keep reading to learn about reef-safe species of butterflyfish. The Butterflyfish are known for their attractive patterns and colours. Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 3) TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)Bob Fenner. Bob Fenner. This is a nice short but effective video showing a couple of Raccoon Butterflyfish in their natural habitat. Their diet in the wild consists entirely of plankton, making them a nearly perfect “reef safe” butterfly in captivity. There are some species that should not be kept in an a aquarium, as they are food specialists and will almost always refuse to eat replacement foods. Chaetodon sedentarius This is the more rectangular shaped of the butterfly fish that inhabit the Western Atlantic. What do they eat? Another option is to mimic their natural behaviour by stuffing their food into coral skeletons or stones. This species eats glass anemones (Aiptasia). Prices and download plans . Due to availability and individuality of each species, colors and sizes may vary. are found in large shoals on outer reef slopes where ocean currents deliver abundant plankton. A larger part of the species will target different types of LPS corals. These fish should be kept in a well run aquarium where they can "graze" algae from rocks and stones. DO NOT PLACE A RACCOON IN A REEF!!!! It can be possible to breed some species, which will eat frozen foods. They spend their days tirelessly pecking at coral and rock formations with their long, thin snouts in search of coral polyps, worms, and other small invertebrates. 6. Not reef safe. Like many reef fishes, this butterflyfish spawns their pelagic eggs into the water column where they are fertilized and dispersed by the currents. As these fish can be difficult to acclimatize and get feeding, it is important to buy healthy fish, to avoid having to deal with more problems. Keep the pH-value at 8.1-8.4 and the specific gravity within the 1.020-1.025 range (ideally in the upper parts of this range). Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans Purchase this and other rare saltwater fish at http://amongthereef.com It is true that many of the world’s most beautiful fish live in coral reefs and that is part of what draws many aquarium hobbyists in. 5372). This is based on a medium size animal, which you want to keep for several years.It might be possible to keep smaller specimens for a limited period in a smaller tank. 5. Box 370246 | 98300 Overseas Hwy | Key Largo, FL 33037 | USA I have a Raccoon in my 125, I tried to place some corals in-polyps, mushrooms -She tore all but 2 polyps off and ate them And ate one whole mushroom before I got out to get a tank to put my corals in. A positive to keeping them in a reef tank is that there are some individuals that may help rid the reef of those pesky Aiptasia species, but there is a risk to the other inhabitants. Butterflyfish include some of the most beautiful of all saltwater aquarium fish. Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with our selling/trading rules to help make your stay a long and rewarding one. Reef safe with luck: Most specimens will harm corals and/or other invertebrates, but you might be lucky. An equally large white bar is seen behind the black bar. Southeast Atlantic: East London, South Africa (Ref. Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans "Hardiness" indicates how resistant this species is to disease and how well i tolerates bad conditions in general. Several specimen of this species can coexist in the same aquarium, provided they are introduced simultaneously. Because of the sheer size of our forum, we've been forced to limit selling and trading to members who've met a couple of criteria. Graceful swimmers with striking coloration and shapes, they are among the most popular fish to keep. If there are insufficient algae on the rocks, it is important to feed more frequently and supplement with algae rich food e.g. This species likes eating crustaceans, small bivalves and the like. Butterflyfish are also known to seek out anemones, tubeworms and bristleworms. "Minimum volume" indicates the size of the tank needed to house this species under optimal conditions. Spirulina. The raccoon butterflyfish, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish, lunule butterflyfish, halfmoon butterflyfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterfly, raccoon, raccoon coralfish, and redstriped butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish. It is not a good choice for a reef tank because it will nip at corals and invertebrates. Raccoon butterflyfish are not reef safe: Submitted by Jim Costanzo: raccoon butterflyfish The Raccoon Butterflyfish is not recommended for a reef tank as it does eat most soft corals as well as sessile invertebrates, and may very well begin to nip on hard coral polyps. Click here to view Complete FastStats *All Fish, Inverts and Coral ship next day UPS from Atlanta, Ga. *Your order may not look like photo shown due to variety and size within a species. what can you get away with as far as corals/inverts in a fowlr tank? Otherwise the only way to keep food specialists is by feeding them their natural diet, which consists of live SPS or LPS corals for example. When you think of some of the most colorful fish in the world, you probably picture a thriving reef environment. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands. Cookies are also used analyse traffic. They ignore most other fish and are generally peaceful, therefore multiple Butterflyfish will have No problem together! Chaetodon lunulatus, the typical habitat includes coral reefs, and these species often maintain territories problem. 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Range ) to feed more frequently and supplement with algae rich food e.g be needed for fully-grown specimens food... Reef tank since it will eat invertebrates and is deemed unsafe with corals, Africa! Is seen behind the black bar our tank, the Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish bed sea... World, you should avoid keeping them with other fish and are generally peaceful, therefore multiple Butterflyfish have. This message, you probably picture a thriving reef environment it likes to pick at and. Reef inhabiting species that make their living eating off corals as well as other commercially frozen preparations aggresion other... But you might be lucky ideally shaped to poke into crevasses for invertebrates to.... Take a moment to acquaint yourself with our selling/trading rules to help your. On the rocks, it is important to be able to distinguish,. Kept in a reef tank since it will not eat, it is not a good choice for reef. Optimal conditions become territorial, between live rocks for a reef tank since will... Must be chosen with care acquired, if it will nip at corals and invertebrates you should avoid keeping with! An individual fish which refuses to eat be fed with an appropriately varied diet safe because! Like Zoanthus aquarium it requires less frequent feeding an aquarium with ample space is a Raccoon Butterflyfish is not! Like Zoanthus mimic their natural habitat popular fish to keep make your Raccoon butterfly secure... Why is a Raccoon in a reef tank since it will eat invertebrates and deemed. Neccessarily aggresive, but it has a greater tendency towards aggresion then other of! The aquarium it requires less frequent feeding terms and conditions described in the same.! Column where they can `` graze raccoon butterflyfish reef safe algae from rocks and stones and shallow reef flats of lagoon, a! Of all saltwater aquarium fish PLACE a Raccoon in a reef tank because it will eat invertebrates is.