Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish

Stormvillefish · 03/25/2010, 07:02 AM

Looking to start up a new 150 gallon tank ... thinkoing of semi-peaceful route. Anybody keep Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish? For those that have what are they like behavior wise? I was thinking of starting with three of these. What would be good tankmates for them in a 150? All opinions welcome. Thanks.

brettinteriors · 03/25/2010, 05:36 PM

One of my favorite fish. Unfortunatly I havn't had one make it. Either bad luck, or my yellow tang stressed them out too much. My water is great. I even had one eating for two days after shipment die on me. My regular lfs wont get them in because he said 4 out of five die and he has a 2 week live guarantee. I would love to hear success stories as I would love one too.

HASBRO · 03/25/2010, 05:55 PM

I had one for a couple years in a 240gal until he jumped out of the tank. I always thought and read them to be one of the easy btfls to keep.

jd474 · 03/25/2010, 07:40 PM

3 of them might fight in a tank that small. I keep a mixed-school (H. diphreutes & H. acuminatus) in a large tank, and they do chase/nip at each other from time to time. Nothing detrimental, but I haven't kept them in a small tank before. The other problem I've run into, is removing one for any reason (treatment, etc.), they get destroyed upon reintroduction. Now, if one comes out, he has to go to another tank.

As far as tankmates go, any aggressive fish has potential to go after their dorsal, but they are definitely not a passive fish. I've kept them with many different fish, and the only fish that bothers them is a large emperor angel, but he's ~12", and he likes to bother everybody

This is a shot of a few of them (there are 13 total), and they are fully grown.
(and I don't want to hi-jack, so please don't ask how big the tank is)

brettinteriors · 03/26/2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettinteriors

One of my favorite fish. Unfortunatly I havn't had one make it. Either bad luck, or my yellow tang stressed them out too much. My water is great. I even had one eating for two days after shipment die on me. My regular lfs wont get them in because he said 4 out of five die and he has a 2 week live guarantee. I would love to hear success stories as I would love one too.

Just realized I was talking about the threadfin/auriga

Stormvillefish · 03/26/2010, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the responses all.

JD474 ... that is one gorgeous tank you have there ... do you think 2 would be better than 3? Thanks.

jd474 · 03/26/2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormvillefish

JD474 ... that is one gorgeous tank you have there ... do you think 2 would be better than 3? Thanks.

Thanks, though I don't "own" it, just it's keeper. I think 1 would be better than 3, but if you really want 2, make sure to add them at the same time, and I'd probably use a specimen container to see how they react towards one another.

angelfish7 · 03/26/2010, 06:09 PM

I have two heni b/f right now and they are pretty much model citizens... I would go with three. they are pretty hardy. I've had mine for just over a year right now.

Jocephus · 03/26/2010, 06:19 PM

I had two in a 125, and I agree, model citizens.

Stormvillefish · 03/27/2010, 05:38 PM

Thanks guys ... looks like I will be getting 3 ... will post pics soon.

extreme5450 · 03/28/2010, 11:44 AM

lets see it!!

Stormvillefish · 04/08/2010, 10:16 AM

Sorry for the poor picture quality ... here are the three Henichus B&W Butterflies in my 150 ... nothing else in the tank ... what would you recommend adding with these fish ... want to see some color and interesting behaviors ... thanks.

03/25/2010, 07:02 AM	#1
Stormvillefish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 152	Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish Looking to start up a new 150 gallon tank ... thinkoing of semi-peaceful route. Anybody keep Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish? For those that have what are they like behavior wise? I was thinking of starting with three of these. What would be good tankmates for them in a 150? All opinions welcome. Thanks.

03/25/2010, 07:40 PM	#4
jd474 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: my mom's basement Posts: 658	3 of them might fight in a tank that small. I keep a mixed-school (H. diphreutes & H. acuminatus) in a large tank, and they do chase/nip at each other from time to time. Nothing detrimental, but I haven't kept them in a small tank before. The other problem I've run into, is removing one for any reason (treatment, etc.), they get destroyed upon reintroduction. Now, if one comes out, he has to go to another tank. As far as tankmates go, any aggressive fish has potential to go after their dorsal, but they are definitely not a passive fish. I've kept them with many different fish, and the only fish that bothers them is a large emperor angel, but he's ~12", and he likes to bother everybody This is a shot of a few of them (there are 13 total), and they are fully grown. (and I don't want to hi-jack, so please don't ask how big the tank is) __________________ Don't cross the streams. Current Tank Info: Tankless and happy about it

03/25/2010, 05:36 PM	#2
brettinteriors Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 1,106	One of my favorite fish. Unfortunatly I havn't had one make it. Either bad luck, or my yellow tang stressed them out too much. My water is great. I even had one eating for two days after shipment die on me. My regular lfs wont get them in because he said 4 out of five die and he has a 2 week live guarantee. I would love to hear success stories as I would love one too.

03/25/2010, 05:55 PM	#3
HASBRO Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 238	I had one for a couple years in a 240gal until he jumped out of the tank. I always thought and read them to be one of the easy btfls to keep.

03/26/2010, 08:12 AM	#6
Stormvillefish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 152	Thanks for the responses all. JD474 ... that is one gorgeous tank you have there ... do you think 2 would be better than 3? Thanks.

03/26/2010, 06:09 PM	#8
angelfish7 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 359	I have two heni b/f right now and they are pretty much model citizens... I would go with three. they are pretty hardy. I've had mine for just over a year right now.

03/26/2010, 06:19 PM	#9
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	I had two in a 125, and I agree, model citizens.

03/27/2010, 05:38 PM	#10
Stormvillefish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 152	Thanks guys ... looks like I will be getting 3 ... will post pics soon.

03/28/2010, 11:44 AM	#11
extreme5450 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 388	lets see it!!

04/08/2010, 10:16 AM	#12
Stormvillefish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 152	Sorry for the poor picture quality ... here are the three Henichus B&W Butterflies in my 150 ... nothing else in the tank ... what would you recommend adding with these fish ... want to see some color and interesting behaviors ... thanks.