Butterfly illness (marine tank)?

Question

55gal fish only(with live rock) tank. Established Dec/06. Water chem tests all negative including phosphate. PH 8.0-8.1. Temp 78. Fluval 403, protien skimmer, u/v ster. All other fish healthy. Noticed butterfly (which is normally white with black stripes and some yellow) had her white areas turning grey/dark. Today she appears to be dying (labored breathing, at bottom of tank). I am quarantining her now but wonder if anyone knows what, if anything, I should treat for? (fyi: we feed marine pellet, mysis shrimp and live brine..pellet mornings, shrimp evenings). Again, water chemistry tests perfect.. help?

Salinity normal (1.021), water changes every 2 weeks using r/o water and salt. Only 5 fish in the tank: two smaller damsels (one is mildly territorial but the butterfly is so big he doesn't bother her), one coral beauty, one clown w/anemone

Answer 1

While I have never kept that particular fish, I too assume you mean a threadfin or Auriga butterfly. That does indeed sound like diet as the main factor, but water conditions could also be a factor. What you are describing doesn't sound like any disease I am familiar with at all. Here's a link to a very well respected website and some FAQ's about your fish. Please notethe additional links at the top of the page and also please notice that you can email their staff with the specifics of your quesiton if you don't find an answer in the materials presented. Best of luck finding an answer!

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/aurigafaqs.htm

MM

Answer 2

I am guessing that this may be an Auriga Butterfly. Butterflies can often be very difficult to keep and many require corals in their diet (although the Auriga is generally a bit easier to keep).
Another area of sensitivity to Butterfly keeping is that these fish also easily succumb or suffer repairable kidney damage due to high ammonia levels in shipping.

At this point, I would be dishonest to say there I much you can do, a bath in Methylene Blue for 30 minutes is often helpful for gill damage from shipping but not if has progressed to the kidneys. One other possible remedy is Choraquine Phosphate if you can find it (very hard to come by since Aquatronics went out of business).

I assume your other fish are OK from your post.

This article is useful for basic Marine information (including some butterfly info):

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Saltwater.html

Answer 3

Hi i have a marine tank and find this website very good, lots of people in the forums to help out and share any information I'm sure someone on there would be able to help. I know you said all test ok but are you reading any ammonia, nitrates or nitrites? Also what is your salinity reading?

www.masa.asn.au

Answer 4

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/fish/ButterflyFish.pdf

Have you checked the salinity levels? How many fish do you have (is it overcrowded for the shy butterfly?).. Have you done partial water changes at regular intervals?