Like surgeonfish, they are susceptible to external parasites and also known to feed on seaweed. Although in common with marine angelfish, they also feed on sponges, coral polyps, tunicates and other micro and macro invertebrates. Due to this behavior, a Moorish idol is certainly not considered reef safe.

And, while the shape of the Moorish idol reminds folks of the familiar freshwater “angelfish” they have in their home aquarium, the two are not related. The Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus, is unique — the only member of the Family Zanclidae.

Moorish idols, Zanclus cornutus, prefer flat reefs in depths between 3 m – 182 m, and can be found in both clear and murky subtropical waters, including inner lagoons, and rocky and coral reefs.

Schooling Bannerfish are also planktonivores and are generally reef safe if well fed. The Schooling Bannerfish may reside in a 125 gallon or larger aquarium with other peaceful fish and others of the same species, if all were introduced into the tank at the same time.

2. What do Moorish Idols eat? Moorish Idols prefer lots of yummy algae, sponges, and tunicates, which are small invertebrates that attach themselves to hard surfaces in the ocean, such as coral reefs, rocks, and even boat bottoms.

There are currently about 120 species of butterflyfish that have been described, but only a relatively small number of them are adaptable to the home aquarium. This if the primary reason why butterflyfish can be such a challenge to keep in a reef tank, though there are species that have been described as reef-safe.

Diet / Foods : Longfin Bannerfish mostly eat zooplankton in the ocean, but will and should go after most foods offered. Try to feed them a varied diet of fresh meaty foods, frozen foods (thawed first) and a good quality and balanced flake food. They may also pick at algae growing on tank surfaces and live rock.

In general, most copperband butterflyfish will not attack the corals in your tank–but they do tend to enjoy eating clams, tube worms, and mollusks, and they may pick at large fleshy coral polyps, so technically, they are not really reef safe, but there are a lot of reports of people keeping them safely with their …

Butterflyfish: Auriga, raccoon, Klein’s, longnose, teardrop and copperband are some species known to eat aiptasia and corals.

They are a great addition and chances are pretty good yours will eat aiptasia and will be reef safe.

A number of Butterfly fish are known to eat aiptasia. At first take this many seem great, but it may not really work our. Some can be kept in a saltwater fish aquarium, but must be used more carefully in a reef environment as they may snack on various corals, zoanthids and star polyps, and even feather dusters.

Why are they so bad? Because they have a super powerful sting that can & will kill corals & even fish! They can & will breed & multiply like rabbits & can quickly overtake a tank.

One chemical-free way to control Aiptasia is to inject scalding hot RO water into the polyp with a hypodermic needle. The hot water effectively kills the Aiptasia. Lemon juice may also be used to inject the Aiptasia. Part one in this series introduced Aiptasia, and explained how they survive in your tank.