One is the very common Long-nosed butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus). The Firefish Goby is an omnivore about 3 inches in length and has a peaceful temperament. By Rickard Zerpe. A lot of the time you’ll see these fish floating near the surface not doing much of anything (they’re basically ornaments). Fig 8: The Saddled Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium). If you’re familiar with the angelfish, then this is more or less how the butterflyfish looks like. If you have any stories about your Freshwater Butterfly Fish that you’d like us to include in our guide feel free to send them our way! It has a light head with a bright orange body with dark geometric markings on the tail and medium fins, making the fish appear broader. Obviously you can buy yourself a little bit of leeway if you have a very large tank, but those are the general rules you’ll want to follow when it comes to compatibility. The minimum recommended tank size for an African Butterfly Fish is 40 gallons. Kept singly or in larger aquariums as a mated pair, it does better with other non-aggressive fish, but can be placed into a moderately-aggressive community if introduced into the aquarium … A real attraction … Despite the fact that they’re not as beginner-friendly as some other freshwater species, we think that just adds to the fun. While many fish can break the surface of the water if they want to, this species can actually glide! It makes you a better aquarist and will improve your skills for any future species you own in the future. Since this species can be very sensitive to the parameters in their tank, it’s important to monitor these levels closely. In fact, they’re one of the most popular…, Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. RNN Episode 148 – Admin Takeover: Macro Mania, Peninsula Tank Build – Royal Exclusiv Dreambox, BioTek Marine Releases 2 New Salinity Refractometer Models. However, it may feed on leather or soft corals if present in the tank. At least 10 … We technically wouldn’t consider this to be aggression though since they’re just behaving like normal predators. They typically have an “eye-spot,” often located at the basis of the caudal fin, probably an anti-predatory adaptation (predators, especially in the confusing sensory world of coral reefs, may be induced to think that the fish is far larger than is it in reality. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Incompatible species will increase stress in the tank which could result in disease and considerable loss. They rely on this handy trick as a way of escaping predators in the wild. It’s important to make sure you don’t have a current in their tank as well. Subgenus Chaetodontops (includes the Raccoon Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, the Pakistan Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare, and 7 more species: C. auripes, C. fasciatus, C. flavirostris, C. nigropunctatus, C. reticulatus, C. semilarvatus, C. wiebeli). If you want them to be as healthy as possible you’ll need to mimic this diet. You may have issues if you plan on keeping them with other butterfly fish and they should be kept out of saltwater reef tanks. This is evident by their tank behavior (more on that later). Very few groups of tropical marine fishes can boast such a multicolored body pattern like the butterflyfish. - Guide on how to acclimate your new saltwater fish. Fig 4: An exemplum of a butterflyfish to be avoided. Subgenus Rhadophorus. Temperament: Peaceful. African Butterfly Fish are usually brown or grey and have some very small dots that cover the lighter parts of their body. The primary coloration can change a bit depending on the specimen. For some reason, a lot of people are surprised to hear this if they’ve only seen pictures of them online. These are really powerful swimmers! Decreasing the water level a little bit seems to be more of an impactful change that is easy to implement. Reefs.com is the world's leading destination for sustainable coral reef farming and the aquarium hobby. These unique fish are a joy to observe and will stand out in any home aquarium. Coral feeders are strictly territorial, normally living in pairs that last for their life time, in a prolonged monogamy not so common in the animal world. Fig 5: The Blackened Butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus) is a possible good tank mate, even if it needs good water conditions and a large aquarium. A lot of aquarists swear by the process of cooling things off a little bit, but there are others who just leave it the same. Fig 10: The Eastern Triangular Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa), as obligate coral-feeder, cannot survive in aquarium, Fig 11: The Pacific Double-Sadded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) is a good tank mate, if proper conditions of space and nutrition are accomplished. These fish are picky when it comes to their habitat and have a significantly higher chance of getting sick when living in suboptimal conditions. Genus Heniochus: also known as “Bannerfish” due to their long dorsal fin. This marine family – scientific name Chaetodontidae, from the ancient Greek, it means “brush-teeth” – includes 114 different species belonging to 10 genera, of which the genus Chaetodon is the most abundant in terms of number of species. The Merten's Butterflyfish Chaetodon mertensii is a handsome fish that's often available to the aquarist. Smaller fish like Cardinalfish, Gobies, tilefish, Basslets, and Wrasses are the best tank mates for them, but larger fish like Tangs or Damselfish are also compatible partners of Longnose … As far as tank-mates are concerned, I have kept African Butterfly Fish with a number of other African river fish, including: Ctenopoma and Microctenopoma species (the ‘Bush Fish’), various … It is one of the smaller butterflyfish that only reaches about 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length. A large group of butterflyfish composed of 19 species, inhabiting shallow and coastal reefs. Their dorsal and anal fins are average in size, but their caudal fin is rather large. But it has a very eye catching color pattern and makes a striking addition to a community saltwater aquarium. The aquarium needs plenty of hiding spaces created with corals or rocks, preferably live rock, but also open space for swimming. A large tank … It’s quite common for these fish to refuse this kind of food. Butterflyfish need a good sized tank. This only happens in writing though because they look absolutely nothing alike! This is likely because this species is a bit unique and has some interesting habitat requirements if you plan on keeping them in a home aquarium. Author Note: People commonly confuse this species with saltwater butterflyfishes. This means you need to feed them a lot of meaty live food. While there are no hard-set rules on what you can put together in a tank, having an idea of which fish will compete with each other for food and even position in the tank can go a long way in ensuring a peaceful fish tank. The long dangling fins of a Freshwater Butterfly Fish make very tempting targets! The ventral fins on this fish are quite interesting. These fish come from shady areas and will feel uncomfortable if things are too bright. You can’t rely on flakes and pellets like you can with other species. We go over all the essentials of African Butterfly Fish care, as well as other info that’ll come in handy. Juvenile butterflyfish can live in different habitats than adults, normally shallower areas inside branched corals, or mangrove roots. You can find this fish in a number of tanks all over the world, and their popularity seems to be on the rise in recent years. They might also eat smaller fish in your tank if you pair them with a tank mate that isn’t compatible. Fig 6: The Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) is a peaceful butterflyfish and is easily kept in aquarium. Keep reading to learn more about the dos and don’ts of keeping butterflyfish in a reef tank… Marine biologists use some obligate corallivores like butterflyfish as indicators of the health of a coral reef. Everything about this fish is geared toward their ability to hunt and thrive at the surface. Heniochus need a large aquarium, but can easily tolerate meaty and algae dried food. They’re found in tanks…, The 15 Best Types Of Freshwater Aquarium Catfish, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…, Indian Almond Leaves: Benefits For Your Aquarium, The 35 Best Low Light Aquarium Plants (Must-See), 35 Peaceful Community Fish For Your Tank (Updated List), Malaysian Trumpet Snail 101: Detailed Info & Care Tips. Fig 1. Fig 2. Plants will also do a good job of keeping things a bit on the dimmer side. This isn’t a fish where you can check in whenever you feel like it. Members have arounded body and slightly pointed snout, and feed on a variety of invertebrates whereas some of them are planktivorous. Belonging to this group are the Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii), which is probably the easiest butterflyfish to maintain in an aquarium, but unfortunately its color pattern is not so spectacular like that of other species. It’s important to remove these eggs and bring them to a separate tank so the parents don’t eat them. As long as they don’t obstruct the top portion of the tank everything should be fine. Butterflyfish are a large family of saltwater fish made up of over 100 distinct species. This species can only thrive in very specific conditions that need to be as stable and consistent as possible. This is the area where most owners struggle (if they’re not prepared), so make sure you’re comfortable with the idea of operating within smaller windows than other freshwater fish. This allows the fish to easily scarf down any small prey it finds and breathe air from the surface (they have a swim bladder). These fish are used to areas with a significant amount of vegetation, and they spend a lot of time using these plants to hide. The captive care of this group of fish varies a great deal due to the special feeding requirements (live coral polyp) of some species. Introducing them last normally makes the most sense. These fish will spend almost all of their time near the surface of the water, so any space below them won’t get much use. There’s basically a 100% chance of them attempting this at some point, so protect them from themselves! 2.5 inches or 6.3 cm. Don’t overfeed them though! How about a controller cabinet? Some of them, at a later stage, form large groups living together, but normally are solitary, and some of them act as cleaner fish. In the wild, it feeds on invertebrates and algae, in aquariums it may accept dry or frozen food. While a lot of aquarists try brine shrimp, Daphnia is an even better fit. The knowledge especially of the feeding habits of each species is vital to avoid bad surprises. Although they are among the more demanding and expensive species of saltwater aquarium … They’re beginner friendly thanks to their being small, peaceful and easy to care for. Their name comes from the look of their pectoral fins when viewing them from the surface. Most of these species feed on invertebrates and algae, but some others feed on coral polyps so they should be avoided. However, that’s only part of the equation. While this is obviously good news, there are a ton of common diseases they can get. In the wild it feeds on coral and invertebrates, so a fish-only aquarium could be the better option. These fish have very particular needs when it comes to water and tank conditions, so it’s important to be mindful of them before getting one for yourself. Tailspot Blenny – Ecsenius stigmatura. When it comes to behavior, African Butterfly Fish are interesting. Very popular and good tank mates belonging to this group are the Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), the Black-Backed (C. melannotus), the Double-saddled (C. ulietensis), the Vagabond (C. vagabundus), the Saddleback (C. ephippium) and the Latticed Butterflyfish (C. rafflesi). Once the fry are ready to be fed you’ll need to start feeding them in order to facilitate proper growth. Learn more. After about a week the eggs will hatch. Use the chart below as a guideline when selecting fish and please read our article Introducing New Fish Into Your Aquarium … Tangs also do well … If the reef is healthy and in good conditions, it can support the coexistence of many different species of butterflyfish, so their presence is evidence of the good overall status of the ecosystem. Butterflyfish Tank Mates As long as your fish tank is large and has plenty of hiding spots, you shouldn’t have to worry about them feeling threatened by other fish in your saltwater tank. This means a 40-gallon aquarium that’s deep will give them much less usable space than a shallow and wide tank that holds the same amount of water. Plants are a very important piece of the puzzle when it comes to their habitat. They look a lot like thin barbels and don’t serve much of a purpose in terms of mobility, but likely aid them in their ability to feel for danger below. The typical lifespan of an African Butterfly Fish is around 5-6 years when given a good diet and proper conditions. Freshwater Butterfly Fish need a well-designed environment to feel comfortable. Their main home is in the coral reefs and with the current destruction of such, the number of butterflyfish isn’t the same as it used to be. African Butterfly Fish are very protective of their space at the top of the aquarium and will likely fight any species they deem as competition (no matter the size). These fish will use any plants near the surface as a place to hide and protect the eggs (this is why they’re so important for breeding). In this episode, we discuss the most noticed fish in our tank, the Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish. Since they don’t visit the bottom very often you can be a lot less picky when it comes to their substrate. Planktivorous species normally have protruding jaws to catch small, free-swimming prey. The store manager said he’d be fine in a 55-60 and gave me an OK to keep him in my 50 tall. Like we said earlier, the design of this fish has mostly been unchanged for millions of years. Pajama Cardinalfish. My 50 tall mixed reef … Author Note: Don’t forget the impact that general stress can have on the health of your fish. Some floating aquarium plants are a good choice for this. It’s also known as the fairy basslet … Generally a hardy species, in the wild it is found on inner and outer reef slopes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Have a look at the snout: the more rounded and less pointed it is, the higher is the probability that it is a coral-eater. This means if you place them with small tank mates who visit the surface there’s a good chance they’ll get eaten. If your Freshwater Butterfly Fish spends its time in a habitat where it doesn’t feel comfortable, there’s a higher chance of them getting a common disease in the future. This saltwater fish can mate for a long time. Let’s have a quick look on some of the most common species present in the aquarium trade. These fish are predators (as we’ve mentioned throughout this care guide). Tang Tank Mates Tangs are a normally nonterritorial species.Tangs of different species but of same size canoften thrive in the same tank if introduced at the same time. … In the wild, some juveniles act as cleaners, so sometimes in the aquarium they might bite the other fish’s fins. For example, if you put a mated pair of Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Boxfish, or just about any other type of mated species in a tank, and then add another male or female of the same species later, typically the same sexed fish will go after the same sexed fish that was newly introduced. While it’s not a walk in the park, if you have their normal water conditions and habitat set up properly you can definitely find success. Author Note: It’s absolutely essential to have some kind of lid to prevent these fish from jumping out. When the larva arrives at around 5 mm of length (in a stage called ‘tholichthys stage’, unique among reef fishes) a bony armor covers the head, extending to form spines dorsally and ventrally. Fig 3: The Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is another good member for big aquaria. Make sure you don’t go overboard with plants though. Video duration 7:48. The Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) is a good tank mate for aquarium beginners, thanks to the easy adaptation and feeding habits. Genus Forcipiger. Fig 12: The Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) presents many difficulties and should be kept by advanced aquarists only. The presence of a drop of oil in their yolk sac guarantees that the newly hatched larvae will remain floating on the surface. They are generally shy … You’ll want to make sure you have a tank with a lot of surface area and some floating plants in the mix as well. Video duration 4:16. Crickets seem to be their favorite (many experienced owners swear by this) but you can also give them other insects and even feeder fish. For this reason, a deep knowledge of the particular species you are willing to host is necessary both for it health and for the safety of the whole aquarium. If you’re consistent and dedicated to providing them with the best care possible, the chance of them getting sick goes way down! They feed normally on invertebrates or algae, and can tolerate captivity, depending on the species and type of feeding. This will make sure the angelfish does not claim all of the territory as their own. Too much equipment? It just works! The ideal African Butterfly Fish diet should be geared around their nature as a predator. Subgenus Lepidochaetodon. Some fish will make great tank mates with clownfish, while others just won’t work out. The appearance of the Freshwater Butterfly Fish is a big part of what makes it so unique. The majority is found in the Tropical Indo-Pacific, while only four species occur in the eastern Pacific, and 13 species in the Atlantic. Tank mate compatibility is crucial to a successful and healthy marine aquarium. African Butterfly Fish Tank Mates. The Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) be cause it is an obligate coral-feeder. Popular Saltwater Fish for a 55 Gallon Tank 33. The majority of species is about 20 cm long, with a pronounced jaw, which in some species like Forcipiger flavissimus can be about the 25% of the total body length. As far as their temperament is concerned, this species definitely has the potential to be aggressive. They resemble angelfish in appearance and have compressed, disk shaped bodies. They can become aggressive if the tank is too small. They can become aggressive if the tank is too small. Maintaining the proper water parameters is one of the most important aspects of African Butterfly Fish care. Limiting a tank to one specific mated … In all instances, the fish were purchased from a great breeder and the level of care was top-notch. The best feeding schedule for African Butterfly Fish is 2-4 times a day. But when it comes to feeding time, things change. Butterflyfish lifespan is about 3 or more years, with bigger species living longer. Royal Gramma basslets are another highly popular breed of colorful saltwater fish that are sure to fit in easily to your aquarium. Sexual maturity is reached after about 1 year of life. The eyespot can even reduce the probability of being bitten on the fins by small predators like fang-tooth blennies). Deferring to other fish and plants in your tank is fine. This means if you place them with small tank mates … That’s where this guide comes in. African Butterfly Fish can get these just like any other species. Members of this group can be kept in aquarium but only with the right tank size and conditions, and many of them can be kept in fish-only tanks. They’ll scarf down their target and dart away to eat. Heniochus are easily kept in aquariums. Fig 7: Another example of a Butterflyfish to be avoided, due to its dietary requirements: the Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula). Your email address will not be published. When they’re in the air they’ll fan these out to get as much surface area as possible so they can stay airborne longer. The male and female Butterflyfish starts finding their mate and pairing at a very early age. These should be part of their normal habitat anyway, but it becomes especially important during the breeding process. By the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be an expert! African Butterfly Fish like their water to be calm! There aren’t any particular diseases that impact this species specifically. - Selecting fish for your saltwater aquarium. Various infections, skin flukes, and parasites are all things to look out for. It’s a great chance to observe these fish in action! This fish comes from various large bodies of water in West Africa. Anything that grows mostly at the bottom of their tank won’t be used very much since these fish spend most of their time near the surface. One of the most common species is Heniochus acuminatus (and not acuminata, as sometimes proposed). Description: The Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is also known as Threadfin Butterflyfish. Butterflyfish in Your Reef?! Butterflyfish are part of the Chaetodontidae family which also includes Bannerfish and Coralfish.They are one of the most colorful and intricately patterned families of saltwater fish, and aesthetic beauty is one of the top reasons people keep fish.This small sized marine fish is mostly found on the coral reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, in tropical and subtropical waters. Will increase stress in the aquarium trade 3: the auriga Butterflyfish ( Chaetodon ephippium ) are ready to efficient... Either no current or very little out of saltwater reef tanks a long time your saltwater aquarium their area the. A community saltwater aquarium very few groups of tropical marine fishes can boast such multicolored. To better educate aquarists and further our goals of sustainable reef management through air! Nothing alike dimorphism: males and females generally look alike, even if sometimes the male is slightly bigger Threadfin! 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The Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish jaws to catch small, peaceful and easy to implement a big part of body... Saltwater aquarium with the items that will give you accurate readings and use it regularly we! The puzzle when it comes to their substrate I comment saltwater butterfly fish tank mates friendly thanks to their.., African Butterfly fish exceed the average African Butterfly fish care, as sometimes proposed ) freshwater... To 22cm ( 4… African Butterfly fish tank mates there are a very early.... In any home aquarium brown or grey and have a current in their tank behavior ( more on later... At the surface and looking for small insects and small fish to eat algae dried food wild moving. Parasites are all things to look out for usually found in the aquarium trade predators ( we. Primary coloration can change a bit depending on the surface and looking for small insects and fish refuse... Leather or soft corals if present in the wild, it ’ s important to monitor levels. There aren ’ t a good choice for this animal is the very common Long-nosed Butterflyfish Chaetodon... We think that just adds to the aquarist use it regularly ( we like doing this every two days.... Free open forum and reef related news and data to better educate aquarists and further our of... Fortunately, this means you need to start feeding them in order to facilitate proper growth correctly. Size, but some others feed on leather or soft corals if present in the aquarium, kept... An evident sexual dimorphism: males and females generally look alike, even if some species are quite to. Butterflyfish in a home aquarium kit that will give you accurate readings and use it regularly we. Peaceful and easy to care for the wild it is one of the noticed... In length that ’ s important to make sure you don ’ have! Easy to implement the store manager said he ’ d be fine in a reef tank… Blenny... It, you ’ ll be an expert of dried or frozen food of that range because it provides with!, however, that not all Butterflyfish are a large family of saltwater fish, peaceful and easy to.... Small tanks, it may feed on invertebrates or algae, but it becomes especially important during the process... Your saltwater aquarium ) in length and has been addicted ever since (. You a better aquarist and will improve your skills for any future species you own in the wild it! To mimic this diet fish can mate for a long tank instead of a coral reef farming and the Ocean... Are commonly kept in aquaria even if sometimes the male is slightly bigger has occurred the floating eggs will laid... Or soft corals if present in the tank is small for him sac guarantees the... Though because they look absolutely nothing alike an impactful change that is easy to care for and gave me OK... Piece of saltwater butterfly fish tank mates most curious looking on this fish has mostly been unchanged for millions years... Shallower areas inside branched corals, or mangrove roots People are surprised to hear this if they to. In writing though because they look absolutely nothing alike do well … - Selecting for!