Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish v inverts

[Phishy]

thatfishplace says they will eat inverts, liveaquaria only states it requires meaty foods and to use with caution with inverts on the chart.

Are they snail/crab eaters or is this a coral/sponge warning?

Anyone have one, I don't have any corals or sponges, but I do have snails, crabs and shrimp.

[Loverotties]

Snails yes,crabs not shure.

[tims]

hmmm,the Bannerfish... this is a cool looking fish to have , they look very much like a Moorish idol and live better. what size tank are you going to have him in? i hope something bigger than a 55 gallon.
they are meat eaters( although a mixed diet with greens will be the best), so some of your smaller inverts may become dinner. i have read / heard of them nipping at some soft corals too. But that is NOT always the case.
should you decide to get a pair ( or more), someone will become the master. you will see some head butting and body slamming until the master is set.

[Phishy]

Would it eat a abalone (3" diameter)? I wouldn't want it to have a $25 dollar meal on me.

[steveweast]

There are two species of black and white Henis.....H. diphreutes.....and.....H. acuminatus.


H. diphreutes is quite reef safe and H. acuminatus is very much not. I've been keeping the H. diphreutes for years with sps, lps, shrimps, clams, snails, etc. H. diphreutes are open water planktonvores and show no interest in inverts.

Here's a link with some tips on distinguishing the two.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1142817