Larvatus Butterfly not eating

tangaroo · #1 02-15-2008, 05:24 AM

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?

albert_dao · #2 02-15-2008, 05:25 AM

What have you tried feeding them thusfar?

Aquattro · #3 02-15-2008, 05:27 AM

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...

albert_dao · #4 02-15-2008, 05:32 AM

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

EmilyB · #5 02-15-2008, 06:36 AM

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.

Veng68 · #6 02-15-2008, 08:35 AM

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]

hawk · #7 02-15-2008, 05:30 PM

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.

Phanman · #8 02-15-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reef_raf

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

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

fishoholic · #9 02-17-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reef_raf

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...

Interesting list, how come I didn't know (before I got one) that clown tangs are listed as "class A" never to be kept in captivity. *Sigh* the things you learn after the fact

Good luck with your butterfly fish, I hope they make it. Did you try feeding clam, if you did how did it go?

naesco · #10 02-17-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishoholic

Interesting list, how come I didn't know (before I got one) that clown tangs are listed as "class A" never to be kept in captivity. *Sigh* the things you learn after the fact

Good luck with your butterfly fish, I hope they make it. Did you try feeding clam, if you did how did it go?

Though it is nice to see a the list, they are still in the business of selling fish.
www.wetwebmedia.com has a better list.
They list good and bad of most of the species and should be a must read a reefer buys a fish.

Thanks
Wayne