Saltwater Aquarium Butterfly Fish (Chaetodontidae)

The butterflies are some of the most beautiful of all marine fish, on account of their vivid coloring. They are widespread in the tropical seas, where they live in coral reefs, either singly or as couples, generally staying close to the coast. The juveniles often have a different coloring from adults, which can cause some confusions between species. Butterfly fish generally have a specialized diet, according to the species: some graze on algae, some eat the tentacles of anemones or coral polyps, while others prefer different kinds of invertebrates.

This sometimes leads to acclimatization problems, as they will not accept a normal diet. They must therefore be trained to eat other food: adult brine shrimps, worms, pieces of mussel, small shrimps. If they refuse this type of food they will soon die. The Chaetodons are considered the most demanding of fish as regards living conditions. This means the water must be of excellent quality – thoroughly stirred, filtered, and oxygenated - and regular changes, in small quantities, are beneficial. The temperature must be a minimum of 26°C, and the specific gravity 1.022-1.023

Generally speaking, it is only possible to keep one Chaetodon per tank: they are territorial and do not really get along with each another, although they do accept fish from other species. Nevertheless, invertebrates are out of the question as cohabitants. The decor should consist of blocks of coral, through which they can weave about in comfort, thanks to their body form, but they must be given sufficient free space for swimming and feeding.

Butterfly Fish Coloring
The coloring of adults is often slightly different from that of juveniles (size less than 5 cm), the black patch on the rear of the dorsal fin sometimes disappearing in adults. It seems to act as a false eye (the real one being surrounded - and hidden - by a band or black patch) to deceive an enemy and surprise it by fleeing "in reverse." However, this theory has yet to be proven. Once the fish are fully grown, the juvenile bands can fade or disappear completely, although some, in contrast, can get bigger.

Red-Tailed Butterfly Fish
(Chaetodon Chrysurus)
The red-tailed butterfly fish seems to tolerate other species from the same genus. It is an active fish that grazes on the algae in the decor and eats pieces of worms and mussels. Sometimes, however, it can refuse all food in its first few days in the aquarium. Size: 16 cm.

Auriga Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Auriga)
One of the best-known butterflies, the auriga is characterized by the adult's filamentous extension of the dorsal fin. Active and not prone to shyness, it is easy to acclimatize. Feed it with living or frozen food, backed up by vegetable material if there are no algae to graze on in the decor. Size: 14 cm.

Four-Eye Butterfly Fish
(Chaetodon Capistratus)
Acclimatizing a four-eye butterfly fish can be complicated, as it normally feeds on the tentacles of anemones and corals, but it soon becomes easy to keep. It is one of the rare species emanating from the tropical Atlantic, where it is common. Size: 10 cm.

Raccoon Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Lunula)
Easy to acclimatize, the raccoon butterfly fish accepts food of animal origin backed up with vegetable material. The black patches on the young (dorsal area and rear) get bigger in adults once they have reached 7 or 8 cm. Size: 20 cm.

Lemon Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Miliaris)
In its natural habitat, the lemon butterfly fish feeds on the soft parts of corals. In captivity, it has to grow accustomed to small, live prey, then frozen ones (brine shrimps, tubifex worms). Size: 13 cm.

Pakistani Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Collare)
The Pakistani butterfly fish will tolerate fish of its own species. Undemanding as regards diet, it accepts both frozen and live food and also feeds off algae in the decor. It has a reputation for being easy to keep. Size: 17 cm.

Black Back Butterfly Fish
(Chaetodon Melanotus)
There are few differences between the juveniles and adults of the black back butterfly fish. This somewhat nervous species appreciates brine shrimps, worms, and small pieces of mussel, as well as small anemones of the Aiptasia genus that sometimes "spontaneously"appear in marine aquariums.
Size: 15-17 cm.

Meyer Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Meyeri)
Rarely found in the aquarium trade, Meyer's butterfly fish proves very difficult to acclimatize as it feeds on coral. Even if it does accept substitute food, it is not unusual for it to die in captivity. Size: 15 cm.

Red Sea Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Fasciatus)
The Red Sea butterfly fish is considered very difficult to acclimatize, because it feeds on anemone tentacles and the soft parts of coral. This species can be confused with C. lunula. Size: 15-17 cm.

Dot-dash Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Punctatofasciatus)
Placid, little prone to aggression, but a vigorous swimmer, the dot-dash butterfly fish can accept artificial food, after first adjusting to small animal prey. It is considered difficult to keep. Size: 10 cm.

butterflyfish-copperband

Copperband Butterfly Fish
(Chelmon Rostratus)
The elongation of the "beak" of the copperband butterfly fish (more pronounced than that of the Chaetodon genus) has evolved to enable it to pick out food from crevices in the coral. This robust species swims slowly, except when it is alarmed. It feeds on small, live prey, notably crustaceans. Size: 17 cm.

Four-Spot Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Quadrimaculatus)
In its natural habitat, the four-spot butterfly fish feeds on corals or small anemones. It does accept brine shrimps and frozen food in captivity, making it easier to keep. Size: 15 cm.

Masked Butterfly Fish
(Chaetodon Semilarvatus)
The highly active masked butterfly fish searches out small prey near the substrate or in the algae, but it also swims in open water. Its maintenance can pose problems, as it is sometimes considered to be delicate. Size: 20 cm.

Spot-Fin Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Ocellatus)
The placid spot-fin butterfly fish feeds on small live and frozen prey. It seems to accept the presence of other specimens from the same species. Size: 11-12 cm.

Vagabond Butterfly Fish
(Chaetodon Vagabundus)
The color of the young vagabond butterfly fish differs from that of adults. This species is not given to shyness and is easy to feed, with live prey and vegetable supplements. Its acclimatization is relatively smooth. Size: 1 5 cm.

Banded Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Striatus)
The banded butterfly fish, like the C. capistratus and the Cocellatus, is native to the tropical Atlantic, while the other butterflies come from the Indo-Pacific region. It does not pose any problems once it has become used to small food items (crustaceans and anemones of the Aiptasia genus). Size: 15 cm.

Longnose Butterfly Fish (Forcipiger Flavissimus)
This is an easy species to acclimatize if it has not suffered too much during its importation. Not inclined to be aggressive (except against members of its own species), the longnose butterfly likes to have some hiding places. Its diet comprises mussels, tubifex worms, or fish flesh. Size: 15 cm.

Pennant Butterfly Fish (Heniochus Diphreutes)
The first spokes of the fins of the Heniochius genus are elongated to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the species. The pennant butterfly fish is peaceful and easy to keep in a spacious tank. Small, live prey is its favorite food. Size: 20-25 cm.

Black and White Butterfly Fish (Heniochus Intermedius)
The background coloring of the black and white butterfly fish can vary from white to yellow, except on the upper part of the body. At night, when it can swim as actively as by day, it gets darker.
Size: 15 cm.

Brown Butterfly Fish (Heniochus Varius)
The brown butterfly is distinguished by a protuberance between the eye and the base of the dorsal fin, and by small tentacles above the eyes, which are more developed in the adult male. Size: 20 cm.

Saltwater Introduction

Cover all we need to know about saltwater, so we can keep marine fish.

Aquarium Supply

Lot of things we should prepare to start saltwater aquarium!

Aquarium Setup

Steps to be taken before the aquarium ready to receive
fish and operate.

Marine Fish

Detail about saltwater fish species. For beginner also expert.

Invertebrates

They difficult to keep, although there are some suitable for hobbyist.

Plants

There’s only a few of them, but the results can often be highly attractive.