Butis Butis

[ac106]

My LFS said they might get one in. I have been poking around at Fishbase.org and online. Couple of things popped up

1) Some sources imply that they are a threatedn species.

2) They are predatory, but it is noted they only eat stuff they can fit in their mouth.

3) Nothign about schooling.


Anyone keep one? I am def intested, but after the fiasco with the Targetfish I am weary of anything unknown. Will the Butis Butis try to eat these guys like the Targetfish did?

Current setup

30G US, SG 1.005 or so

2 Knight Gobies
1 Violet Goby
1 Archer Fish
1 Green Spotted Puffer
2 Orange Chromides

In about 6 months, the GSP and Archerfish will move into a larger tank with higher salinity. They are both 2-3" now.

 

[AMS]

You will be fine with the current fish, but if the Butis butis is large enough aand the knigths are small enough he may give them a go. DOnt plan on anything small like bumble bee gobies though as Butis butis feed mainly on smaller fish and the BBG's would be lunch. Dont quote me on it, but I think they will need a higher specific gravity than 1.005.

 

[nmonks]

Butis butis are euryhaline fish, and will adapt to anything from fresh to marine, but do best (in captivity at least) in moderately brackish water through to fully marine.

They are out-and-out carnivores and will eat anything they can swallow. Like most eleotrids (sleeper gobies) they are territorial, and I would only keep a single specimen in a small tank, or a fairly large group (say, four or more) in a bigger tank.

Adult Butis should be fine with anything too big to eat. Other sleepers, Awaous gobies, flounders, cichlids, suitably docile puffers, etc. They used to be quite popular in the 70s and 80s, as "crazy fish", but are rarely seen nowadays. The name crazy fish referred to their peculiar resting habits, these fish seemingly sleeping upside down or vertically against the glass or a plant.

Cheers,

Neale