Deepwater Butterflies

[Regal125]

I am seriously considering adding a deep water butterfly to my tank. It is a reef tank and will house around 80% SPS, the rest will be LPS and Ricordeas. I know that they pose a threat to some corals. But that does not bother me. I currently have three angels in my tank (Regal, Potters, Flame) and I have had great luck with them. (No aggression, no coral demolition yet)

There are three different Butterfly species that I am seriously looking into. The Mitratus, Declevis, and Tinkers are the three I am looking at. I am having a very difficult time deciding between the three. I am leaning towards the Mitratus, but I am not sure. Does anyone here have experience with any of these butterflies?
What are they like? As far as reef safeness goes, where do they rank?

THanks for any information.

~Michael

[Tippmann98]

Maybe keep away from them all together. The name gives it away, "Deep water" our tanks are not set up anything NEAR deep water. IMO

[Regal125]

If acclimated properly and provided with a varied diet many fish that are considered deepwater can do fine.

Many of the Wrasses and Anthias that we keep are actually deepwater fish.
Deepwater is also a relative term. 100ft is deeper that 50ft.
There are many people who keep these butterflies successfully for years.

~michael

[Tippmann98]

yea you are right, but most B/F need a very varied diet, including ones of sponges. Sorry, IMO B/f are one of the fish best kept on the reefs

[Regal125]

I understand. But luckily these three species are some of the most hardy butterfly species. Plus I feed my tank with a HUGE variety of foods, including prepared and fresh sponge. My Angels just go crazy for it.
~Michael

[wolfe4372]

the Mitratus is very pretty

i dont have experience with them i was just saying and you may have a challnge on your hands either way good luck.

[Regal125]

I like a challenge
~Michael

[Loverotties]

You need to run the tank colder for deep water fish.

[Regal125]

Yep I know this.
I currently run it at around 77-78. But I can go colder.

~Michael

[Regal125]

Hello Everyone..

I have been heavily debating wether or not I should add another fish to my system 70, let alone a butterfly.

Well, a while back Megan and I were considering setting up a deepwater reef tank. We have been looking into this for the last few months. Now that I have caught the butterfly fever, I am looking into the idea of a deepwater tank even more than ever.

It is actually kind of hard to find much information on the deepwater butterflies. I can find the regular, (peaceful, semi/not reef safe, easy/moderate to care for) information. But details seem difficult to come by.

I am looking into setting the tank up for three butterflies and a harem of anthias.

Here are the fish that I am considering:








I am thinking the three butterflies, and a group of 5 or 6 Ventralis. Possibly a few deepwater dwarf Angels as Well

I am looking for some feedback on this idea.
Let me know what you guys think?

As far as size goes I am looking into that. My Uncle and I will be building the tank ourselves, just as we did my 100 gallon. Currently I am thinking of building a cube-style tank, around 125 gallons.

~Michael

[Pacific Is. Aquatics]

the chaetodon sp of butterflies are probably one of the easiest fish to keep in the hobby. they always eat, and always live well (assuming they were decompressed properly) Most tanks are kept in the 79-82 range (atleast i hope!) so they will be perfectly fine in these conditions - however they need to be fed alot in order to sustain their high metabolism at the higher temps.

C. tinkers - the once thought to be endemic to Hawaii (still mainly caught in hawaii)
C. declives - christmas island/ line islands (sometimes Marshalls)
C. burgess - all over
C. flavorcornatus - ultra rare! One of the rarest fish in the industry coming from the deep waters of Guam (and just recently reported from Majuro - according to a collector)
C. mitritus - indian ocean - rather rare but attainable

my favorite is tinkerii and the hybrids. A lot of nice colors! I have had excellent luck in the tinkers, hybrids, declives and burgess i have gotten.
and just recently a C. burgess x C. flavorcornatus (or tinkerii) hybrid!!