DeltecRules,
Chaetodon butterfly fish are a risky introduction to most reef aquaria. By nature most species of Chaetodon will constantly pick at the substrate, rockwork, and coral grazing for food. In the confines of an aquarium, these fish will normally develop a liking for a specific group of coral, and constantly pick at them until the stress kills the coral. This can be said for most Centropyge angelfish as well in the confines of a young reef aquarium.
Deepwater species such as C. burgessi, C. mitratus, C. declevis, C. tinkeri are normally found at 130 feet deep or greater, on steep reef slopes where they reside among the black corals, gorgonians, and soft corals. Some of the above mentioned species are even found at the base of fore-reef walls among sand and rock at these depths, where there are very few corals growing.
Most deepwater species of Butterflies are less risky to introduce to reef aquariums than shallow water species, but they still may pose a threat to any polyps, mushrooms, soft corals, LPS, and even SPS. When deepwater species of butterflies are introduced into a very mature SPS aquarium with large colonies that are 5" or greater, the damage that one of these fish can inflict on a single colony is significantly reduced.
Although there are numerous aquarists (mostly in Asia and Europe) that show images of beautiful SPS tanks with deepwater butterflies in these aquariums, I really wonder how long the fish have been in these set ups? I personally would advise against introducing any Chaetodon butterfly fish to a reef aquarium, unless the tank was set up so that all of the corals and rockwork could be easily removed to capture the fish if problems occurred. Most enthusiasts have a substantial investment in corals and the risk to me is just not worth it.
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
