Larvatus Butterfly not eating
 

does anyone have a suggestion to get this butterflies to eat i have 4 of them and they have not touched any food for a week now i hate to lose them can some one help?

What have you tried feeding them thusfar?

Well, from this site, these are listed as fish to never have in the aquarium, due to diet and stress...

http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/badfishlist.shtml


Since you've got them, you might try feeding some clam...

Oops, missed that. Was confusing with semilarvatus. Yeah, unfortunately, you're most likely screwed...

My Black Back is probably one of the hardiest fish I own. Funny to see the rating on there..

Try to keep food small, chop up the mysis, or crush the flake. Is there a fish in there that is a good eater? Feed what it likes, but make it small. BFlys may also take to spirulina nibblers as if flakes off gradually into the water column.

I hate to say it but I think they are obligate coral feeders.

I learned from a friend who kept SW fish for many years and he told me never to buy butterflyfish like that (he gave me a whole list but I can't remember names off hand).

Cheers,
Vic [veng68]

Were these fish sold to you as "Larvatus" or some other common name?. Hopefully it is a mis-identification. If they really are Larvatus, they are strict acro polyp feeders. I have only read of one person who kept these fish alive for more than a few months. He actually purchased browned out dying acros from a lfs. IIRCC, this guy lived in the UAE and had a huge, ultra sophisticated system. His Laravatus still eventually starved to death. Where did you purchase these fish? Good luck.

Just read this.

http://www.reefhotspot.com/store/pro...roducts_id=629

You'll find this type of info from dealers that sell this fish and just about anything else. Most if not all "reputable" dealers do not sell this fish. And if they do, should at least be honest with the care level recommendations. There are countless (non-commercial) sites that state the captivity issues with this fish.

Wow the Phycodurus eques in that link looks crazy...