African Butterfly Fish

[yabby]

Firstly, my new ABF is snaffling up the crickets like no other, how many should I feed him per day? Also, are these fish gill or air breathers?? Sometimes I see him taking gulps at the surface...it would be quite convenient for this species if they were given their surface swimming habits...Cheers

 

[always4lora]

Can't say i've noticed mine breathing at the surface but it wouldnt suprise me as they spend all the time there. They do have gills or at least mine looks like it has them . I had mine on crickets but as a few escaped and the mrs hit the roof i've opted for meal worms which the snakeheads the abf share. decent fish with a big mouth

 

[mixmaster jay]

Since they are carnivores, the Butterflyfish, African Butterflyfish, or Freshwater Butterflyfish will eat all types of protein foods. They especially like live insects. Feed flies, mosquito larvae, small spiders, worms, small fish and large flake food, and small crickets untill they stop eating so probably about 3 or 4

im not sure about the breathing but alot of middle to top dwellers gulp at surface

 

[yabby]

yeah i fed him 4 yesterday...and he ate one of my male endler's overnight...definitely has a bit of an appetite
i think i'll give him a cricket or other insect each day and supplement with some bloodworms and flakes
i'm sure he'll consume plenty of endler fry as well...do they commonly eat fish or is that only rare because i'd imagine fry would be a great constant food source for him?

 

[always4lora]

can't imagine fry being very nutrious, they'll eat just about anything that will fit in its mouth. Mine accepts floating cichlid pellets which have alot of nutrion in them.

 

[keenonfish]

ve always wondered with these fish - are they opportunists i.e. they grab anything passing or will they activly seek their prey? Do they EVER leave the surface?

BTW I don't think these are labyrinth fish but they may digest air similar to cory's?

 

[always4lora]

As theyre always at the top generally id be amazed if they didnt take any air in at all. They will stalk prey i find, even with cichlid pellets it'll follow it then just like pounce on it. They must have a pretty strong jaw as ive seen them half pretty big crickets. Yeh they leave the surface when scared and thats about it . Whenever i open the lid they go to the middle region of the tank.