Another Aiptasia killer- Threadfin Butterflyfish

[kaykay]

Hi,

Have been battling the aiptasia for the longest time, growing out of control, due largely to my laziness, heavy feeding, and non-existent husbandary skills on my 6-ft fowlr.

At its peak, I would count up to 25 large-sized pest basking in full glory, some as big as 4-5cm in diameter (just the flesh, not including the tentacles ok!)

Some of the LS I tried: (didn't try injecting w stuff recommended... just too lazy, and many of them in crevices thats hard to reach)

1. Seagrass filefish - Not a single bite, for the past 1year+ was just waiting for feeding every nite. Think I got a lemon.

2. Copperband butterfly - tried 2 specimens.

1st one, I thought was a little too puny, just about 3". Survived 3 weeks.

2nd one, got the biggest I can get. But aips still growing. Survived 2 months.

3. Peppermint shrimps - Got 4 in total, in pairs over a 2 month period.

1st pair, a liitle too small too. MIA after 2 days of sighting.

2nd pair, good size. but keeps geeting washed up the overflow. Rescued them a total of 3 times!! Almost became hae bee

Regular sighting of 1 of the guys under his fav rock on sand bed, scavenging pellets every night!!

Aips still growing...

1 day in Nov'09, while chatting w aunty at CF, was recommended this guy to solve this pest growth issue.

Was not expensive, so gave it a try.

Viola Hallelujah!!!

Last week while relaxing in front of the tank, realised that I could not find a single aiptasia in the tank at all, and have remained aip-less since then!

I would like to believe that this threadfin butterflyfish has got something to do with this, perhaps even with the ninja assassin skills of the hiding peppermint shrimps wiped out the colony.

Best part, this butterfly fish is cheonging for pellets every feeding time.

Now my fav fish in the tank..

Pic courtesy of www.liveaquaria.com

[jackywongto]

** BIG HUG!!!

[yikai]

threadfin butterfly - chaetodon auriga

raccoon butterfly - chaetodon lunula

saddlebackbutterfly - chaetodon ephippium

these 3 butterflies are well knowned for their renowned aiptasia eating skills. they prey on anemones in the wild and aiptasias happen to be their favourite in reef tanks. however due to them being not reef safe, they are not used in reef aquaria.

out of these 3, i would say the threadfin and raccoons are the most die hard aiptasia fans. seriously. knocks them off with a 1 2 punch every single time without fail.

[kaykay]

I would say that this is my "Best LS Buy in 2009" haha..

Too bad this is too risky a specimen for reef tanks..

[onizukaa]

wow, another successful bro wiping out aptisia without using chemical... , my peppermint commando wiped out two.. cos mine's a nano tang..

btw whats the damage for the butterfly?

[yikai]

please do note that these fishes are not reef safe at all. they will eat corals without fail.

[kaykay]

Eh Lemonlemon,

You walking encyclopedia or something? Amazing man, your knowledge..

[kaykay]

Hi Onizuka,

I seriously cannot remember exactly how much I paid for this fella, coz I got a few other items at CF that day.

But it's around 10-ish..

[Guest]

Eh Lemonlemon,

You walking encyclopedia or something? Amazing man, your knowledge..

You didn't know he is the "King of fish ID..ing... "

[yikai]

You didn't know he is the "King of fish ID..ing... "

there are other much more experienced ID-ers like terryz in this forum

i don't know all of them... especially the more exotic ones ._.