African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi)

This weekend I was given 2 young Butterfly fish as a gift. I did a quick search on them and decided that they would do okay with my cichlids in a very wooded tank. (4 x cichlids, 3 x Yoyos, 1 Plec) in a 3 ft tank. I also read they are jumpers. I closed the lid area quite but did leave a small gap on one side (2 x 3cm) ...

They both jumped out and died the firts night!! needless to say I am very upset with myself...

Has any body else kept these, as I want to get another 1 (apparently you cant keep them together!) and is there any thing pros and cons you can post...

thanks!

ps on a lighter note, I found a danio in my breeding tank (which only has a feeding gap in the lid) and is about 1.5 m below and behind the tank which I keep them in...chances of it making it must have been 1 000 000 to 1!! I caught him and put it back! I think he jumped while I was cleaning the tank...

 

sorry to hear that scaly

 

Sad news man. i have never heard of butterfly fish jumping out of a hole that size. i know rope fish and polyptrus do that sort of stuff.... I have seen them keeping +-20 in one tank so that shouldnt be a problem. maybe someone gave them a freight?

Are they with those lovely red/pink cichlids of yours?

 

Breading profusely! They will however be moving to a new owner on Saturday (one of our fellow members)... I decided I had enough fun with them and want the tank back... Which I want to convert into a Brakish....I have an Archer in mind...

 

ok good - just remember to use marine salt and not just plain table salt when you do your brackish tank.... start a new topic on it... should be interesting

 

They go after moths etc and jump out, they need live food like crickets, small guppies, earth worms and a floating plant cover is a must. You can keep them together too, if you are around JHB pet Masters in Boksburg had quite a few last week, I know they suck but you can go rescue some there.

 

Thanks B! Will pop around later in the week! My tank is now as sealed as a duck's backside...

ps I have plent of guppys...