Pakistani Butterflyfish
Hi Bob,
I wonder whether the above fish is a shoaling lot? Can keep in a small group?
I read you rate it a good one.
Interested to keep.
Hope to hear your advice soon. David.
<Yes, possibly... take a read about the species in the Butterflyfishes reviews posted on the site: www.WetWebMedia.com Bob Fenner> 

Tinkeri butterfly's
Hey Bob,
<Hi John>
Just got back from a fun weekend in Chicago. Went to hear Eric Borneman speak. Lorenzo (aka Zo) was going to go with us, but had to cancel at the last minute.
He missed a good time
Stopped at OLD TOWN AQUARIUM,
They had a LARGE and a small to medium Tinkeri that I am interested in.
So the question is, do you think I could put both of them together in a 4ft (long) X 3ft (wide) 2ft (deep)
With a few other fish of course. I really don't know much about butterflies in the same tank, except how to kill them.
I do know that Tinker's are plankton pickers and I can handle the feeding part. It just the compatibility I am worried about.
Any help would be welcome.
<You could... this species is very different than most chaetodonts... quite passive (have seen them caught with bare hands, approaching divers off of Hawai'i), but I encourage you to just keep one... if for no other reason to leave one for someone else's enjoyment, experience. One is fine on its own. Bob Fenner>
John Dawe
'a fool and his money are soon parted, especially if he's into aquariums'
PS they also had a 'Hawaiian dwarf eel' that looked like a big (12in?) G. melatremus, which I have had in the past. Hey, its only money......................
<Were the Tinker's not a couple hundred dollars or more each? Bob Fenner>

Re: Tinkeri butterfly's
Bob,
the small-medium, 3inch+(?) was $349, the large one was on sale for $119, they want to get rid of him they said (?) he was holding his own, not taking any lip form another large fish.
<! Diver pay for this species is not-size dependent... and last time I was around, about $75 per, FOB the Big Island... the low price IS low>
$349 is a bit high, but I don't mind paying for a health fish that lives. Should be closer to $200 - $250.
I have seen pairs of Tinker's in Ann Arbor for $175 each or the pair for $400. (they must have skipped math class once too often) Too much money for the locals and ended up coming down with something after several months They were both bigger than I wanted. I go for the small fish so they better adapt to captivity.
Every fish I have bought there has come down with ICK, even if I put it in a tank by itself and died or I killed it trying to treat it. Or spread the ICK to any other fish in with it.........
<Likely their system has a very entrenched infestation... At some point... best to nuke (use a biocide like bleach (some like formalin/formaldehyde... not me) to wipe all clean, start again). Bob Fenner>