Are Heniochus acuminatus reef safe?

[falconut]

I read different things about them. Does anybody know if they are safe with corals, shrimp, snails, crabs, etc.? Are they similar to the Copperband in being reef safe?

[JENnKerry]

There are several species of heniochus butterflies. Most are not safe with corals but there are one or two that can be kept in a reef. I would try

www.wetwebmedia.com

[Kahuna Tuna]

Heniochus diphreutes, the schooling bannerfish is the one you want. They look much like the acuminatus species but are planktivores and are much more reef safe. Acuminatus heni's can be very destructive in a reef and would belong in a FO tank. The easiest way to ID them is to look at the last black stripe on the body and see where the inside edge of the black stripe ends. On the diphreutes the black stripe ends at the very end of the anal fin, on the Acuminatus the black stripe ends higher up the body and the end of the anal fin is all white.

Vivid sells both species and knows the difference between them.
http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Brow...AButterflyfish

I have kept the Acuminatus heni but in a FO and found them to be very hardy for a butterfly. I imagine that even the safer schooling bannerfish might not be 100% reef safe in regards to corals, they will be fine with the snails and crustaceans. I think the copperband comparison could be right on.