Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish, when properly cared for, can make beautiful and distinctive additions to fish only marine aquariums. Often large and usually not suited for those with smaller aquariums, nor those of the faint of heart. Nevertheless, when fed a varied diet and kept in pristine conditions, Butterflyfish will usually thrive. That is, if you choose the right species. With Butterflyfish, usually a fish is going to survive, or it's not. Many species simply cannot be kept in captivity, and potential keepers must take care to only purchase those species that have a fighting chance. Also, be very picky about which specimen you choose- any sign of mishandling should be taken as a red flag.
The following species are relatively hardy and an experienced aquarist should have no trouble with them, so long as they are diligent.
The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. Found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, there are approximately 120 species in 10 general. A number of species pairs occur in Indian and Pacific ocean, members of the huge genus Chaetodon, and their taxonomy has often been confused by whether these should be considered species or subspecies. Recent work using DNA sequence data has resolved many of these questions. Also, numerous subgenera have been proposed for splitting out of Chaetodon, and it is becoming clear how the genus ought to be subdivided if that is desired.
Butterflyfish look like smaller versions of angelfish (Pomacanthidae) but unlike these lack preopercle spines at the gill covers. Some members of the genus Heniochus resemble the Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus) of the monotypic Zanclidae. Among the paraphyletic "Perciformes", the former are probably not too distantly related to butterflyfish, whereas the Zanclidae seem far less close.
Adults are often solitary and territorial, live around sand or rubble bottom up to a depth of 50 m. They are omnivorous, feeding upon benthic algae, various microorganisms, and foraminiferans that it strains from sediments, sponges, polychaete worms from sand flats, mollusks, small crustaceans, and small fishes, able to feed on benthic invertebrates by blowing jets of water into the sandy substrate.
The Copperband Butterflyfish, Chelmon rostratus, also commonly called the Beak Coralfish, is found in reefs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This butterflyfish is one of the three species in the genus Chelmon, all being known for having longer beaks.
Copperband butterflyfish can grow to 8 inches (20 cm) but in a home aquarium are usually found at half that size. They do well at a normal reef temperature range of 75 to 84 °F (24 to 29 °C), with a tank size of at least 75 gallons with lots of live rock to graze on. This species is not reef safe. It will eat many invertebrates, including parasitic forms such as Calliactis parasitica (Parasitic anemone).
The Latticed Butterflyfish, Chaetodon rafflesii, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and from Palau (Belau) to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia.
It grows to a maximum of 18 cm (7.1 in) long. The body color is yellow with a cross-hatched pattern of darker lines on the sides; it has a vertical black eyestripe and a vertical black line in the caudal fin. The peculiarly-patterned C. rafflesii belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it seems to represent a rather unique lineage, with perhaps just the White-faced Butterflyfish (C. mesoleucos) being less distantly related.
The Latticed Butterflyfish is an uncommon species found in areas of rich coral growth of lagoons and protected reef flats and seaward reefs from 1-20 m depth. It feeds on sea anemones, polychaetes, and octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps.
Forcipiger flavissimus (Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish) is a species of butterflyfish in the genus Forcipiger.
It has a round shape with a head and snout which at times looks like a seal or a dog. It can come in a variety of colors, although most commonly blue. The distinctive identifying item are the black spots. It feeds on algae, corals, sponges, sea squirts, crustaceans and molluscs.
Like most puffers, black-spotted puffers are highly poisonous, making them dangerous or even deadly to eat.
The blue-cheeked butterflyfish, Chaetodon semilarvatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, at depths of between 3 and 20 m.
Its length is up to 23 cm (9.1 in). It is mostly yellow, with thin slate blue vertical lines on the sides and a slate blue cheek patch in lieu of the usual black eyestripe of most Chaetodon.
The blue-cheeked butterflyfish belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it seems closest to a group containing the black-backed butterflyfish (C. melannotus), the spot-naped butterflyfish (C. oxycephalus), or the peculiar black-wedged butterflyfish (C. falcula) and Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish or "false falcula", (C. ulietensis). Though the present species does not share their white body with black on the back and caudal peduncle and even lacks the typical eyestripe of Chaetodon, it has the same tell-tale blue vertical lines as these species.
C. semilarvatus is a common species found in areas where there is rich coral growth, often encountered in pairs or small aggregations. It is occasionally observed hovering in a stationary position for extended periods under ledges of Acropora plate corals. Reproduction is oviparous, and pairs are formed during breeding.
The Atoll Butterflyfish, Chaetodon mertensii, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Pacific Ocean from the Ryukyu Islands to the Philippines and extending to Lord Howe Island, Rapa Iti and the Tuamotus.
It grows to a maximum of 12.5 cm (5 in) long. Body color is white with 5-7 chevron-shaped dark grey bands on the sides. The posterior portion of the trunk, the adjacent dorsal and anal fins, and the posterior portion of the caudal fin are orange or yellow. A vertical black bar runs across the eye and over the nape without a break; in the similar species there is a separate nape spot and eyestripe.
The Atoll Butterflyfish is found in deep lagoons and seaward reefs at 10-120 m depth. It feeds on algae and small benthic invertebrates.
The Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish or False Furcula Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis), is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It flourishes in coral-rich environments in the Indo-Pacific region. Their range extends from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Tuamotu Islands, and north to Japan. They are usually found from the surface to 20 m depths, and like shallow channels with high current.
These fish can reach a size of 15 cm (5.9 in). They are white with vertical thin black lines down the body and two dark saddles saddles on the fore and hind back, which softly grade into the background color bellywards gradient. Immediately after the hind quarter saddle, the body and tail is bright yellow with a black spot on the caudal peduncle. The dorsal fin has a streak of yellow from the crown of the head to the tail. Like most of its relatives this species displays a black eye band like a mask. As in most butterflyfish, the Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish is prone to blanching at night and when startled.
The raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish or lunule butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from East Africa to Ducie, the Hawaiian and the Marquesas Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, and also in the southeast Atlantic around East London, South Africa. Its length is up to 20 cm (nearly 8 in).
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, its closest relative is probably the very similar Red Sea raccoon butterflyfish or diagonal butterflyfish, C. lunula. Other close relatives appear to be the black butterflyfish, C. flavirostris), Philippine butterflyfish, C. adiergastos, and perhaps also the unusual red-tailed butterflyfish, C. collare. Although the coloration of this group varies greatly, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the red-tailed butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the "racoon" mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.
The raccoon butterflyfish is a nocturnal species that is usually found in pairs or small groups in warm, shallow reef flats of lagoon and seaward reefs, at depths down to 30 m. Juveniles occur among rocks of inner reef flats and in tide pools. Adults feed mainly on nudibranchs, tubeworm tentacles, and other benthic invertebrates, algae and coral polyps. Reproduction is oviparous, with pairs forming during breeding.
The Eritrean Butterflyfish or Crown Butterflyfish, Chaetodon paucifasciatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is essentially just known from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but has been reported from East Africa.
It grows up to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. It is white with black chevrons, except for a red zone stretching from the aft dorsal fin across the caudal peduncle to the end of the anal fin. A red bar runs vertically through the caudal fin. There are black eyestripes and a black "crown" with white border.
Eritrean Butterflyfish are oviparous fish forming monogamous pairings during breeding. They are usually found in pairs or in small groups over coral and rubble areas from 1m to 30m depth. They feed on coral polyps, gorgonians, algae, polychaete worms and small crustaceans.
This fish fares well in the aquarium and thus is sought after by hobbyists.
The Black-wedged Butterflyfish, Chaetodon falcula, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). IT is found in the Indian Ocean, from eastern Africa south to 27°S and east to Indonesia.
It grows to a maximum of 20 cm (nearly 8 in) long. Its shape is reminiscent of longsnout butterflyfish, though the snout is not as extremely prolonged and the pattern is very different. The body is white with a series of narrow vertical dark grey lines and bright yellow and orange over the back, dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin. There are two well-defined black saddles on the back, and as usual the characteristic black eye-band of Chaetodon is present.
The Black-wedged Butterflyfish is found on the reef edge and upper slope. It prefers current-prone habitats 1-20 m deep. It mainly feeds on invertebrates.
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, the closest relative of this peculiar species is the similar-looking Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish or "False Falcula", C. ulietensis. Other fairly close relatives are the quite differently-shaped but similarly-colored Lined (C. lineolatus) and Spot-naped butterflyfishes (C. oxycephalus), while the Blue-cheeked Butterflyfish (C. semilarvatus) seems to be a far more basal lineage relative to all of these. The bluish vertical lines are present in all of these, while a white body with yellow behind and black on back and caudal peduncle are only shared among the four less ancient species.
The Teardrop Butterflyfish, Chaetodon unimaculatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific oceans from Indonesia) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands, and throughout Micronesia.
In the Indian Ocean it is replaced by the Yellow Teardrop Butterflyfish (C. interruptus), now considered to be a separate species but previously included in C. unimaculatus as a subspecies. In its subgenus Lepidochaetodon – sometimes considered a separate genus – it is only distantly related to species such as the Sunburst Butterflyfish (C. kleinii) and the Tahiti Butterflyfish (C. trichrous)
The Threadfin Butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of between 1 and 35 m.
Length is up to 23 cm (9 in). Chaetodon auriga has a neck patch of ascending and a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines. Adults of this species have a prominent black vertical band running across the eye, and a filament trailing posteriorly from the upper soft portion of the dorsal fin. Juveniles have a black bar over the head that hides the eye and an eye-sized black spot on the soft dorsal fin. This spot is usually absent in Red Sea adults but retained elsewhere. As the name Chaetodon auriga originally refers to the Red Sea population, the spotted population is sometimes separated as subspecies Chaetodon auriga setifer.
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it almost certainly is a rather close relative of the Vagabond Butterflyfish (C. vagabundus) and the Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish (C. decussatus). The Threadfin Butterflyfish might be closer to the latter; as C. vagabundus has yielded abnormal DNA sequence data this is hard to say however. The C. auriga species group shares the characteristic pattern of two areas of ascending and descending oblique lines; species differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration.
Threadfin butterflyfishes may be seen in a variety of habitats ranging from rich coral reefs to algae- and rubble-covered areas, either singly, in pairs, or in aggregations that roam over large distances in search of food. They feed mainly by tearing pieces from polychaetes, sea anemones, coral polyps, and algae. Reproduction is oviparous, with pairs forming during breeding.
The Hawaiian butterflyfish, Chaetodon tinkeri, is a member of the Chaetodontidae. Found in the Pacific ocean only from Hawaii, Johnston Atoll and the Marshall Islands. Grows to a maximum of 15 cm long. The Hawaiian butterflyfish feeds on a variety of planktonic and benthic organisms.