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shev · 08-20-2005, 05:30 PM

mines in a 55 gallon, but since they spend 99.9% of their time on the surface (only leaving it when scared) they dont need a very large aquarium volume-wise, just one with more surface area. they also arent very active (except during feeding) they just float in a corner and gradually through out the day pick different spots at the surface to float around. they are jumpers, so be sure to keep a lid, and all openings covered. their eyes are positioned on top of their head for obvious reasons, eating bugs at the surface or flyiing overhead, but they have a bunch of "feelers" that they use to feel small fish and things below them, so they do eat things around neon, guppy, or zebra danio sized, despite what people will say. I keep mine with some blue/gold gouramis, the butterfly fish is kinda territorial, it'll shove the gouramis when they come up for air. but not too rough. sometimes the gouramis will give a little nip on a "feeler" and the abf jumps quite a ways.

When I first got it it took a couple days before it ate freeze dried foods. Until then I fed moths, flies, grasshoppers, mayflies, mealworms any soft shelled bug. If you have other fish that eat fromt he surface (like gouramis) it shows the butterfly fish what to eat and to compete to get food, they easily get caught up in the "feeding frenzy" and dash all over the surface eating the food. mine will attack anything that hits the surface even if it doesnt know what it is. amazing reflexes, mine has caught earthworms and pellets. I still feed it bugs during the summer. very fun to watch eat, I lower the water level a couple of inches and open the screen to my window. moths fly into the tank because of the light and the fish will catch them in mid air.

I guess not very picky about water conditions, they are from africa and probably prefer higher ph's, but maybe not. mine is in around 7.2 ph.

whenever a friend comes over they always stop and say "hey, your fish is dead". even when i tell them its supposed to be like that at the surface they dont believe me.

no difficulties yet, I think they breathe air sometimes, or all the time, making them hardier than a lot of fish.

An intersting thing, when the lights are on they are full of their dark brown and iridescent markings, but dont be frightened when you turn off the lights and come back and its pale white. within minutes of turning the lights back on it'll be back to normal.

08-20-2005, 05:30 PM	#4
shev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montana Age: 19 Posts: 1,561	mines in a 55 gallon, but since they spend 99.9% of their time on the surface (only leaving it when scared) they dont need a very large aquarium volume-wise, just one with more surface area. they also arent very active (except during feeding) they just float in a corner and gradually through out the day pick different spots at the surface to float around. they are jumpers, so be sure to keep a lid, and all openings covered. their eyes are positioned on top of their head for obvious reasons, eating bugs at the surface or flyiing overhead, but they have a bunch of "feelers" that they use to feel small fish and things below them, so they do eat things around neon, guppy, or zebra danio sized, despite what people will say. I keep mine with some blue/gold gouramis, the butterfly fish is kinda territorial, it'll shove the gouramis when they come up for air. but not too rough. sometimes the gouramis will give a little nip on a "feeler" and the abf jumps quite a ways. When I first got it it took a couple days before it ate freeze dried foods. Until then I fed moths, flies, grasshoppers, mayflies, mealworms any soft shelled bug. If you have other fish that eat fromt he surface (like gouramis) it shows the butterfly fish what to eat and to compete to get food, they easily get caught up in the "feeding frenzy" and dash all over the surface eating the food. mine will attack anything that hits the surface even if it doesnt know what it is. amazing reflexes, mine has caught earthworms and pellets. I still feed it bugs during the summer. very fun to watch eat, I lower the water level a couple of inches and open the screen to my window. moths fly into the tank because of the light and the fish will catch them in mid air. I guess not very picky about water conditions, they are from africa and probably prefer higher ph's, but maybe not. mine is in around 7.2 ph. whenever a friend comes over they always stop and say "hey, your fish is dead". even when i tell them its supposed to be like that at the surface they dont believe me. no difficulties yet, I think they breathe air sometimes, or all the time, making them hardier than a lot of fish. An intersting thing, when the lights are on they are full of their dark brown and iridescent markings, but dont be frightened when you turn off the lights and come back and its pale white. within minutes of turning the lights back on it'll be back to normal.