pictures of butterfly fish [load warning?]

[andruboz]

this is my lil arrowanna. or as close to an arrow as i'm going to own.
http://home.satx.rr.com/goodthunder/bf4jan2.jpg
he normally doesn't pose but i think he was making a fuss about having to live with the argentea . and he hasn't had any crickets lately. or maybe he just wants me to trim the parrots feather so he can get around easier...

http://home.satx.rr.com/goodthunder/bf4jan4.jpg
http://home.satx.rr.com/goodthunder/bf4jan7.jpg
http://home.satx.rr.com/goodthunder/bf4jan5.jpg

his reward for posing was 10 baby crickets..

[Leopardess]

Aren't they great fish? I've got one...he's a character. He looks so military to me that I've named him The Sarge. Feeding him is a blast cuz of that trapdoor mouth.

Nice pics...mine likes hanging out at the back of the tank in a mass of plants which makes him very photo-unfriendly...but maybe I'm inspired to take some pics of him now:)

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Such a cool looking fish. I've always been interested in them but i've never actually seen one in fish store.

Do they have a smooth movement like an arowana or are they more like a cichlid when swimming? Or catfish?

[andruboz]

they mostly sit in one place for hours. if they find some still water where they wont get snuck up on, thats just cool. sit and wait for something good to eat to float by.

when spooked, they can jet across the tank pretty quick. they are supposed to be able to catch some air with the winglike fins when really scared. in fact i had 2, but one ended up on the floor.

the stores by me get them in usually 1 at a time and sell them for $10. seen them at petsmart a few times.

[Leopardess]

They maintain their spot on the surface. Mine has only been three inches below the surface a few times - and that was when he got spooked. As mentioned, they dont really swim very much at all...but when they do it reminds me of a dragon/lizard swishing its tail...one big, swift movement from side to side. Mine will sometimes spend an entire day hovering in one corner of the tank, which is pretty typical.

Some people buy these fish tihnking that they look cool and that they'll be able to have this awesome fish swimming through their tank...only to be disappointed to find that, for the most part, they just lounge around. Plus, unless you've got a tall tank, you've got to kind of hunch down to see them.

I've heard they can reach 6' in the air - vertically - without much of a problem.

[Hans]

the only ones ive seen are in our store, its awsome, as soon as you throw some crickets in there, they go up to "perascope depth" and zoom around feasting, then they return to a safe depth

[Leopardess]

actually, I believe they only really use the depth of a tank when stressed or frightened - which is likely in a pet store since they often keep 5 or 6 together in one tank (with no floating plants for comfort)...something that should *not* be done with these nervous fish.

[blitzen25bm]

ive seen them at petsmart too, since they stay at the top maybe i can put one in my crayfish tank.

[dolphin7]

Sweet! Those are some great pics... cool-lookin fish.

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

ive never seen one in realy life before but ive always wanted one they are some of he coolest fish top pics and a lovely fish

[Must4ng s4lly]

What a beautiful FISH! Thanks for shaaring! he looks fine to me. Never seen one before....

[Tim Bo]

Thanks for the pics! Also one of my favorite fish. Great jumpers that have a nack for finding openings in a tank. Like others have said, it is also my experience that they will dive when threatened or spooked.