Question about African Butterflys

[drudnick]

I bought an African Butterfly today for top of tank with Apistos and Rams. I also have some white cloud minnows and a single guppy (kenny) who happens to be alittle trooper from the cycling stage that the wife really likes.


The Butterfly was labeled as nonagrressive, however, I didnt know anything about them and hear they like to eat anything they can fit in mouth. So now the wife wants me to return so Kenny doesnt get eaten. Is this true, that they will pick off guppies and minoows for lunch?

 

[Apistogramm-Sam]

I've had several African Butterflies over the years, and I have never seen them snap at small fish in my tanks. Their mouth is dorsally oriented, and they spend most of their time at the surface, so I suspect that in nature they would prey upon insects or other small critters that would fall into the water, not fish. I usually got good results with them by feeding blackworms, freeze dried krill/plankton, fruit flies, and frozen Daphnia. Very peaceful, timid fish that likes surface cover in my experience.

Sam

 

[aquaticclarity]

Yes, they will eat small fish if the opportunity arises. Like most fish, if they can fit it in their mouth they'll put it there! They are also a jumper, so be sure to have the tank well covered. Apistogramm-Sam is right, African Butterfly fish are a surface oriented eater. I've always fed them a steady diet of crickets or other bugs that would stay at/on the surface of the water.

Jeff

 

[drudnick]

Yeah, I am goin to get some crickets, but didnt know thats what they ate when I bought him. The lights are out and he seems to be stalking the white cloud minnows sleeping at the top of tank.