Declevis Butterfly in a reef??

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Being in the hobby for about 15 years I know well that butterflies are not reef safe, however just like angels there are some that defy the rules. I have had a Declevis for about 10 years now, has seen a few upgrades and down grades and now i want to convert my fish only aquarium into a reef and don't want to find him a new home.

Anyone out there have had one of these guys in a reef, or maybe something in same family of butterflies like a tinkers or burgess??
If so any particular corals you find they messed with more than others??
I know they are pretty deep water butterflies and not naturally found in areas prolific with corals.

Heres a pic of mine.

Birddog · Jun 22, 2014

In my opinion maybe the most beautiful fish and yours is no exception. I love them, but love coral as well. Subscribed to learn if someday I might be able to have one of these awesome fish in my tank!

NC2WA · Jun 22, 2014

I have one but it is FOWLR...I had LPS which was decimated by a pair of falcula butterflies..However I have not seen the declivis pick at coral during the time I had LPS...

Whatever corals you plan to add, see if you can get some small frags/colonies so that you aren't out a lot of money.

I plan on adding some small frags of SPS to my primarily angelfish tank.

Aquaph8 · Jun 22, 2014

Carlos, it would be worth a shot but know they can do a lot of damage with that big mouth of theirs. My Mitratus didn't work out and green slimmer was his favorite. I also wouldn't trust them around fleshy stuff like acans. The beauty of this species is they are big pigs when it comes to food and are really easy to catch with a trap if it doesn't work out. Feed plenty cause like angels they are definitely opportunistic when hungry.good luck

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Thanks guys for some insight!!
keep them coming!!

Yeah right now as you guys can see I have fossilized coral in the tank, hopefully in the next coming weeks will get the chance and funds to swap it out with some real reef rock.
Was hoping to do a mixed reef but looks like he may be dictating to me what stays lol

cutterx23 · Jun 22, 2014

I've had a burgess in an LPS tank that never touched a coral. I also have a blueface angel in an LPS/nem reef that touches nothing. Now in both cases the coral was already in the tank when the fish went in, for as long as I had the burgess it never touched anything even when adding a new piece, but the angel any type of new coral, aside from protopalys and mushrooms, he will annihilate, mainly zoas and new nems, but again doesn't touch anything that was in the tank before him. So if it's possible for you to introduce the fish in to the tank after you've added the corals that may help. I think it probably had to do with associating that things coming from me going into the tank are usually food.

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Great points!
I do have the ability to catch him and place him a quarantine system for a time out period if necessary.
I was also wondering about nems? Wonder how he will fair with that?

cutterx23 · Jun 22, 2014

My guess would be he'd go for the nems, one of the problems with the nems is feeding them, that's when I'd typically have a problem with new nems, the fish would go take the food and nip the stingers, carpets, bta, rock nems. But I think if things are already in there when they get in they don't necessarily look at it as food until they get a taste for it, so you just wanna try to keep it fed well enough that it never scavenges on coral and just sticks to algae and whatever you feed.

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Well decided to take a plunge and threw in a mushroom from my sons nano. So far been since my last reply and no nipping yet. Let's see how it goes

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Was also thinking that if the nem has a clown hosting it, it should have a better shot surviving as those little guys will protect their nems to the death lol

Aquaph8 · Jun 22, 2014

Carlitosway84 said:
Was also thinking that if the nem has a clown hosting it, it should have a better shot surviving as those little guys will protect their nems to the death lol

Mine never touched my nems and that could very well be why.

Tangaroa · Jun 22, 2014

I have 2 Declivis in my 400g reef. They are have been perfect citizens in 7 months that I have had them.

Here's mine.

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Tangaroa said:
I have 2 Declivis in my 400g reef. They are have been perfect citizens in 7 months that I have had them.

Here's mine.

Beautiful pair!!!! Glad to hear someone has had success!!

Tangaroa · Jun 22, 2014

I should add that I have 2 RBTA's patrolled by 2 pairs of clowns and that the Declivis don't go anywhere near them.

Breakin Newz · Jun 22, 2014

Mine ate my acans and chalices. Had to get rid of it.

This was mine years ago.

Carlitosway84 · Jun 22, 2014

Eewwww not cool. I guess at the end if the day it's a gamble.
I have always been known to push the limits and break the so called rules of the hobby.
At one point in my 225 I had 18 different angels so guess challenge accepted.
I appreciate all the info guys!!

Birddog · Jun 22, 2014

Breakin Newz said:
Mine ate my acans and chalices. Had to get rid of it.

This was mine years ago.

Good to know, I have to many acans as well as chalice to ever try to experiment with this Butterfly, although they're beautiful.

NC2WA · Jun 23, 2014

Carlos,

I have a 375g tank and have 9 angels...they were well behaved with the LPS I had in the tank UNTIL I add a pair of falcula butterflies...big mistake..they devoured the LPS, but more importantly showed the bad behavior to the rest of the fish...obviously the falcula were removed and has been several months with out them...

I am going to try easy SPS and see how the angels (and declivis) behave...

you are correct...its a gamble..if you are willing to take the risk and lose a coral, then do it, otherwise stay with fish only.

Carlitosway84 · Jun 23, 2014

NC2WA said:
Carlos,

I have a 375g tank and have 9 angels...they were well behaved with the LPS I had in the tank UNTIL I add a pair of falcula butterflies...big mistake..they devoured the LPS, but more importantly showed the bad behavior to the rest of the fish...obviously the falcula were removed and has been several months with out them...

I am going to try easy SPS and see how the angels (and declivis) behave...

you are correct...its a gamble..if you are willing to take the risk and lose a coral, then do it, otherwise stay with fish only.

I definitely can see falculas doing that. They are beautiful fish though.
Isn't it amazing how fish change behavior just because a few do it?
It's definitely all about finding a happy medium of what you want to concentrate more on, fish or coral....

3dees · Jun 23, 2014

maybe start with some softies. they seem to be the least bothered corals. I have a soft coral 120 gal. and would love to add a bf. my coral beauty doesn't bother anything.