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[delbeek]

Aloha Terry, I just wanted to mention to you and your readers that we have maintained a Chaetodon utliensis in our reef tanks since 1988. The first tank contained Trdiacna gigas clams, Porities and Goniopora. I also had some Xenia in the tank for a while and it did try to eat the tentacles but spat them out as if they were hot peppers! It did eat the planula this coral would periodically release. Today it is in our 5500 gallon reef. It does like to nip the tentacles off of the numerous bubble tip anemones in the tank but will only do so if the resident clownfish are not present, otherwise they drive it off. Other than that it does not bother anything ... 18 years and counting.

Aloha!
J. Charles Delbeek

[AF Founder]

Thanks Charles for the good info.

[delbeek]

Actually I just checked my records at work and that fish arrived May 23rd, 1986. So next May it will be 20 years in the Aquarium!

Aloha!
Charles

[delbeek]

I also should correct the scientific name, it is Chaetodon ulietensis.

[AF Founder]

I also should correct the scientific name, it is Chaetodon ulietensis.

I just copy and pasted the name from my editorial here:
Chaetodon Ulietensis

Charles, What am I missing?

[delbeek]

Nothing ... the spelling error was in my first message.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Aloha from the southern shores of Lake Ontario, Charles.
I have a question regarding your introduction of a Chaetodaon ulitensis to a reef aquarium two decades ago! (Congrats on that. Kind of a risky move so long ago... and even by todays standards.)
Did you undertake this risk with a purpose? Was the fish introduced to eradicate a certain pest? (Aiptasia, Clavularia, etc.)
Once again, thanks for your contributions to reefkeeping... and make sure to take the "Fast Ferry" from Toronto to Rochester before they shut her down.
Sincerely, Gary

[delbeek]

Gary I couldn't tell you since I wasn't here 20 years ago and no one else from that time period is either! I know it was collected locally which itself is unusual since they don't occur here naturally.

Aloha!
Charles