African Butterflyfish

[Channti]

African Butterflyfish were recommended to me as a top-dweller for my tank. Are they a schooling fish? How many should I get in this tank?

46 gallons; bowfront; 36"Lx20"Hx16.25"W
Filtered: AquaClear 70, AquaClear20, AquaTech10-20
Low-tech, Low-light, planted

Final stocking for the tank:
12 serpae tetras
6 juvenille angels--1 pair angels (rehome other 4)
6 yoyo loaches
1 pleco as-of-yet-undetermined

Thanks!

 

[SlyPolak]

If there is enough surface are you could pass with 2. No they are not a schooling fish, if you get too many without enough surface are you will get fighting. 95% of the time they stay at the top, with these fish you have to feed live food atleast once in a while. My 2 males looove mealworms, they eat flake and anything I feed to my other fish but their diet mainly consists of mealworms(I breed for my bichirs as well).. Crickets when I feel like catching a few from the yard, freeze-dried bloodworm and freeze-dried brine shrimp. Once in a blue moon I buy some feeder guppies which between them my bichirs and angels last about a whole 3 mins. My guys eat anything I throw in there but I think they fell in LOOOVE with the mealworms, they can eat up to 4 / 5 big guys each!!
I wouldnt just keep them on flake unless its a strictly for carnivores, they really seem to go for any bug really as long as it fits in their HUGE mouths.
To really temp them you can drop the food in and slightly "blow" on the water in front of them and they go for anything thats there........ even when there is nothing!
Be careful if you have 2 males though, they do get a little nippy at one another from time to time. In my tank one owns one side and the other owns the other.

 

[Channti]

Okay;
So I get two.
1 male, 1 female?
2 males?
2 females?

What's my best combination?

 

[SlyPolak]

If I were you I would try to get 1 male and 1 female but aggression will still be there. (not the nicest fish) But then you may have to deal with breeding behavior/aggression