Tangs also do well … The aquarium needs plenty of hiding spaces created with corals or rocks, preferably live rock, but also open space for swimming. When it comes to behavior, African Butterfly Fish are interesting. This is made possible by their large pectoral fins that resemble butterfly wings. 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. Since this species can be very sensitive to the parameters in their tank, it’s important to monitor these levels closely. These unique fish are a joy to observe and will stand out in any home aquarium. Planktivorous species normally have protruding jaws to catch small, free-swimming prey. The best feeding schedule for African Butterfly Fish is 2-4 times a day. Make sure you don’t go overboard with plants though. One of the most interesting things about the African Butterfly Fish is their ability to jump through the air. They rely on this handy trick as a way of escaping predators in the wild. But for some reason, there seems to be a bit of misinformation floating around online when it comes to these fish. Where you need to be especially careful is with the water quality and parameters of the tank. Fig 12: The Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) presents many difficulties and should be kept by advanced aquarists only. If you’re familiar with the angelfish, then this is more or less how the butterflyfish looks like. Also, their compatibility and affection … These fish come from shady areas and will feel uncomfortable if things are too bright. There’s something fulfilling about taking care of a fish where you have to pay closer attention to what you’re doing. However, it may feed on leather or soft corals if present in the tank. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These fish are predators (as we’ve mentioned throughout this care guide). It’s very important to get a long tank instead of a tall one. … My 50 tall mixed reef … Members have arounded body and slightly pointed snout, and feed on a variety of invertebrates whereas some of them are planktivorous. They’re beginner friendly thanks to their being small, peaceful and easy to care for. When it comes to picking the best African Butterfly Fish tank mates there are a few things you need to be aware of first. The male and female Butterflyfish starts finding their mate and pairing at a very early age. Keep reading to learn more about the dos and don’ts of keeping butterflyfish in a reef tank… The majority is found in the Tropical Indo-Pacific, while only four species occur in the eastern Pacific, and 13 species in the Atlantic. Too much equipment? Very few groups of tropical marine fishes can boast such a multicolored body pattern like the butterflyfish. If you want them to be as healthy as possible you’ll need to mimic this diet. The minimum recommended tank size for an African Butterfly Fish is 40 gallons. After some research, recommended size ranges anywhere from 50-125 gallons so I know my tank is small for him. However, that’s only part of the equation. African Butterfly Fish care is all about providing them with an ideal habitat. Butterflyfish are a large family of saltwater fish made up of over 100 distinct species. 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. We prefer to aim for the higher end of that range because it provides them with extra stimulation and mimics their natural eating pattern. In this episode, we discuss the most noticed fish in our tank, the Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish. Introducing them last normally makes the most sense. Also, introducing them at the same time as other new … For some reason, a lot of people are surprised to hear this if they’ve only seen pictures of them online. African Butterfly Fish like their water to be calm! RNN Episode 148 – Admin Takeover: Macro Mania, Peninsula Tank Build – Royal Exclusiv Dreambox, BioTek Marine Releases 2 New Salinity Refractometer Models. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. Various infections, skin flukes, and parasites are all things to look out for. 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). These fish are used to areas with a significant amount of vegetation, and they spend a lot of time using these plants to hide. 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. Video duration 5:17 In-depth articles of your favorite marine … Video duration 7:48. This will make sure the angelfish does not claim all of the territory as their own. Since they don’t visit the bottom very often you can be a lot less picky when it comes to their substrate. Author Note: Don’t forget the impact that general stress can have on the health of your fish. Amphiprion bicinctus – a great photography subject. They range from 12 to 22cm (4… 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. Heniochus are easily kept in aquariums. This means you need to be very intentional with the items that will impact their area of the tank. This species can only thrive in very specific conditions that need to be as stable and consistent as possible. As long as they don’t obstruct the top portion of the tank everything should be fine. 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. The Firefish Goby is an omnivore about 3 inches in length and has a peaceful temperament. Assuming their habitat is all set up, the next thing to think about is water temperature. In the wild, it feeds on invertebrates and algae, in aquariums it may accept dry or frozen food. This group includes very few species (just 2, but a new species has recently been discovered in the Indonesian Papua, but it’s not yet officially described). Juvenile butterflyfish can live in different habitats than adults, normally shallower areas inside branched corals, or mangrove roots. - How to dip coral and avoid corals pests. If you’re consistent and dedicated to providing them with the best care possible, the chance of them getting sick goes way down! In the wild, these fish spend their time patrolling the surface and looking for small insects and fish to eat. It’s also known as the fairy basslet … While this is obviously good news, there are a ton of common diseases they can get. Adults normally swim in pairs and are planktivorous. This means if you place them with small tank mates … Pajama Cardinalfish. This means if you place them with small tank mates who visit the surface there’s a good chance they’ll get eaten. Fig 6: The Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) is a peaceful butterflyfish and is easily kept in aquarium. In fact, they’re one of the most popular…, Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Although they are among the more demanding and expensive species of saltwater aquarium … In the wild, some juveniles act as cleaners, so sometimes in the aquarium they might bite the other fish’s fins. 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. 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. Being territorial, if kept in small tanks, it may become aggressive. 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. Even if yours accepts these, they don’t have the nutritional values this species requires to be anything more than a different treat. There’s basically a 100% chance of them attempting this at some point, so protect them from themselves! These pelagic larvae remain planktonic for two or more months, and after that period the armor is absorbed and the larva can settle at night, quickly transforming into juveniles. I just purchased a yellow long-nose butterfly fish. African Butterfly Fish need some room to access the surface! 2.5 inches or 6.3 cm. Genus Forcipiger. There is not an evident sexual dimorphism: males and females generally look alike, even if sometimes the male is slightly bigger. 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. After about a week the eggs will hatch. We technically wouldn’t consider this to be aggression though since they’re just behaving like normal predators. The long dangling fins of a Freshwater Butterfly Fish make very tempting targets! Another common name for this animal is the Freshwater Butterfly Fish. These fish are picky when it comes to their habitat and have a significantly higher chance of getting sick when living in suboptimal conditions. We go over all the essentials of African Butterfly Fish care, as well as other info that’ll come in handy. We’d love to hear from you. These fish are predators (as we’ve mentioned throughout this care guide). 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. It is not recommended that Butterfly fish be added to new tanks as they require steady nitrite levels; this species is highly sensitive to nitrites. If you get a specimen with great genetics and you take good care of them, it’s entirely possible to exceed this lifespan. Tank mate compatibility is crucial to a successful and healthy marine aquarium. Fig 2. Ocellaris Clownfish. They should play nicely with other, peaceful tank mates but will not tolerate … Maximum Size: 3” Minimum Tank Size: 30 … They resemble angelfish in appearance and have compressed, disk shaped bodies. This is evident by their tank behavior (more on that later). 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. 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. It’s possible to keep in it aquarium but it requires very good water conditions and a large aquarium (it’s a good swimmer and needs space to move). They have a "false eye" towards the back of the dorsal fin and can get up to about 8 inches (20 cm). Plants will also do a good job of keeping things a bit on the dimmer side. Video duration 4:16. There aren’t any particular diseases that impact this species specifically. The store manager said he’d be fine in a 55-60 and gave me an OK to keep him in my 50 tall. Maintaining the proper water parameters is one of the most important aspects of African Butterfly Fish care. But it has a very eye catching color pattern and makes a striking addition to a community saltwater aquarium. Reefs.com is the world's leading destination for sustainable coral reef farming and the aquarium hobby. By the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be an expert! Some of them, at a later stage, form large groups living together, but normally are solitary, and some of them act as cleaner fish. 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. Plants are a very important piece of the puzzle when it comes to their habitat. A large tank … All of these fins are partially translucent with evenly spaced darker lines. Very popular and good tank mates belonging to this group are the Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), the Black-Backed (C. … How about a controller cabinet? 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. One type of fish that is particularly popular for reef tanks is the butterflyfish. A large group of butterflyfish composed of 19 species, inhabiting shallow and coastal reefs. A lot of the time you’ll see these fish floating near the surface not doing much of anything (they’re basically ornaments). 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 should be part of their normal habitat anyway, but it becomes especially important during the breeding process. These great little fish are one of the most curious looking on this list … … Crickets seem to be their favorite (many experienced owners swear by this) but you can also give them other insects and even feeder fish. Butterflyfish reach an adult size of six inches in captivity. It’s important to make sure you don’t have a current in their tank as well. 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. 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. 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. Learn more. Fecundated eggs will be released in the current, where they will remain until hatching. 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. 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. Tank Mates : Since this species is fairly passive, you'll want to stock them similar minded fish species. Wire management? Once the breeding process has occurred the floating eggs will be laid. They can become aggressive if the tank is too small. Their name comes from the look of their pectoral fins when viewing them from the surface. Let’s have a quick look on some of the most common species present in the aquarium trade. 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. African Butterfly Fish can get these just like any other species. Butterflyfish are commonly kept in aquaria even if some species are quite hard to maintain. They’ll scarf down their target and dart away to eat. 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. Butterflyfish lifespan is about 3 or more years, with bigger species living longer. When it comes to picking the best African Butterfly Fish tank mates there are a few things you need to be aware of first. 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. In the aquarium, if kept in large tanks and correctly acclimatized, live peacefully feeding on a variety of dried or frozen food. It just works! The Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) be cause it is an obligate coral-feeder. 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. 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. 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. As far as their temperament is concerned, this species definitely has the potential to be aggressive. They feed normally on invertebrates or algae, and can tolerate captivity, depending on the species and type of feeding. While a lot of aquarists try brine shrimp, Daphnia is an even better fit. One of the most common species is Heniochus acuminatus (and not acuminata, as sometimes proposed). The long pointed snout is used in the wild to catch small invertebrates from their tiny holes or crevices. Fig 7: Another example of a Butterflyfish to be avoided, due to its dietary requirements: the Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula). 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). - Guide on how to acclimate your new saltwater fish. Apparently there’s something about the look of this fish that makes them seem larger than they really are! Popular Saltwater Fish for a 55 Gallon Tank 33. 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. 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). Fig 3: The Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is another good member for big aquaria. The African Butterfly Fish (aka Freshwater Butterfly Fish) is a very interesting looking species that many aquarists love. Genus Heniochus: also known as “Bannerfish” due to their long dorsal fin. The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a freshwater species that has been around for quite some time. The ideal African Butterfly Fish diet should be geared around their nature as a predator. By Rickard Zerpe. These are really powerful swimmers! The common name makes reference to the brightly colored body (mainly yellow, white and black but with many variations in terms of patterns) of many species. While many fish can break the surface of the water if they want to, this species can actually glide! Butterflyfish are present in tropical seas worldwide, often associated with coral reefs, many of them being obligate or facultative coral-feeders (‘obligate’ means they are able to feed only on coral polyps, while the facultative ones can even rely on other kind of food like algae, plankton or small invertebrates). Limiting a tank to one specific mated … In general, this group should be avoided or carefully evaluated before purchase. They thrive in saltwater with around120species in all. 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. The captive care of this group of fish varies a great deal due to the special feeding requirements (live coral polyp) of some species. It makes you a better aquarist and will improve your skills for any future species you own in the future. The Punctato Butterfly, Chaetodon punctatofasciatus, has a mustard yellow color with a combination of black stripes and black spots and a bright orange band near … Some fish will make great tank mates with clownfish, while others just won’t work out. This isn’t a fish where you can check in whenever you feel like it. A real attraction … We offer a free open forum and reef related news and data to better educate aquarists and further our goals of sustainable reef management. 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! Your email address will not be published. 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. Fig 4: An exemplum of a butterflyfish to be avoided. The typical lifespan of an African Butterfly Fish is around 5-6 years when given a good diet and proper conditions. The knowledge especially of the feeding habits of each species is vital to avoid bad surprises. Fig 1. Video duration 10:05. 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. There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. This only happens in writing though because they look absolutely nothing alike! Once the fry are ready to be fed you’ll need to start feeding them in order to facilitate proper growth. In all instances, the fish were purchased from a great breeder and the level of care was top-notch. In the wild it feeds on coral and invertebrates, so a fish-only aquarium could be the better option. Instead, have a schedule and test these parameters consistently. It is one of the smaller butterflyfish that only reaches about 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length. Fig 8: The Saddled Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium). It’s important to remove these eggs and bring them to a separate tank so the parents don’t eat them. It’s quite common for these fish to refuse this kind of food. Royal Gramma basslets are another highly popular breed of colorful saltwater fish that are sure to fit in easily to your aquarium. Marine biologists use some obligate corallivores like butterflyfish as indicators of the health of a coral reef. The Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) is a good tank mate for aquarium beginners, thanks to the easy adaptation and feeding habits. Heniochus need a large aquarium, but can easily tolerate meaty and algae dried food. This means you need to feed them a lot of meaty live food. Their disc shaped body, highly compressed, allows them to move easily through the cracks and crevices of the reef, and even if they are not particularly fast swimmers, are difficult prey for reef hunters. The African Butterfly Fish has a series of large fanlike fins that typically point away from the surface so they don’t scare away prey. The eyespot can even reduce the probability of being bitten on the fins by small predators like fang-tooth blennies). Author Note: People commonly confuse this species with saltwater butterflyfishes. This fish comes from various large bodies of water in West Africa. The Big Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) is one of the most common species available in the aquarium trade. Get a reliable testing kit that will give you accurate readings and use it regularly (we like doing this every two days). This is why aquarists who wish to kee… Temperament: Peaceful. If the fish preys only on coral polyps, normally the snout is reduced, while for invertebrate feeders, due to the need to insert the mouth in very small holes or narrow crevices, becomes long and thin. African Butterfly Fish Tank Mates. Butterflyfish need a good sized tank. This saltwater fish can mate for a long time. Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) Popular Saltwater … You can’t rely on flakes and pellets like you can with other species. Most of these species feed on invertebrates and algae, but some others feed on coral polyps so they should be avoided. 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. African Butterfly Fish are usually brown or grey and have some very small dots that cover the lighter parts of their body. Butterflyfish reproduction starts with external fecundation, at least for the few species studied, and normally occurs at dawn, after some complex courtship behavior. Freshwater Butterfly Fish need a well-designed environment to feel comfortable. Sexual maturity is reached after about 1 year of life. Some floating aquarium plants are a good choice for this. The average African Butterfly Fish size is about 5 inches in length. Because their build allows them to be efficient hunters and avoid being eaten, they have remained largely unchanged for millions of years. It’s a great chance to observe these fish in action! Author Note: It’s absolutely essential to have some kind of lid to prevent these fish from jumping out. Tailspot Blenny – Ecsenius stigmatura. They can become aggressive if the tank is too small. This is how they hunt in the wild because moving too much will cause insects and small fish to avoid them. Generally a hardy species, in the wild it is found on inner and outer reef slopes. At least 10 … Fig 5: The Blackened Butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus) is a possible good tank mate, even if it needs good water conditions and a large aquarium. 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 … The Merten's Butterflyfish Chaetodon mertensii is a handsome fish that's often available to the aquarist. Clownfish are no different. Here are some African Butterfly Fish tank mates that tend to work well: Author Note: Steer clear of any fin-nipping fish too. Don’t overfeed them though! But when it comes to feeding time, things change. They view the top area of the tank as theirs (anything else could be competing with them for food) and will fight to make sure it stays that way. The home range of butterflyfish depends on the species, varying from a few square meters to very large territories, which is mainly dependent on food availability. They’re usually found in water with either no current or very little. They are mostly found in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. They require a healthy reef tank, steady pH of … Use the chart below as a guideline when selecting fish and please read our article Introducing New Fish Into Your Aquarium … This allows the fish to easily scarf down any small prey it finds and breathe air from the surface (they have a swim bladder). That’s where this guide comes in. 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. Subgenus Lepidochaetodon. Author Note: This is one of the advantages of feeding them a few times each day. 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 … The presence of a drop of oil in their yolk sac guarantees that the newly hatched larvae will remain floating on the surface. Deferring to other fish and plants in your tank is fine. Decreasing the water level a little bit seems to be more of an impactful change that is easy to implement. Their mouth is positioned at an upward angle too. Author Note: We know a few aquarists who’ve had their Freshwater Butterfly Fish exceed the average length by about an inch. Butterflyfish in Your Reef?! Description: The Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is also known as Threadfin Butterflyfish. Everything about this fish is geared toward their ability to hunt and thrive at the surface. 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 … Considerable loss out for by the time you ’ ll need to this. Mixed reef … Butterflyfish are a few times each day further our goals of sustainable management... In suboptimal conditions to kee… Butterflyfish reach an adult size of six saltwater butterfly fish tank mates in.... Small, peaceful and easy to implement the probability of being bitten the. The look of their normal habitat anyway, but can easily tolerate meaty and algae, in aquariums it feed! Evaluated before saltwater butterfly fish tank mates care guide ) of them online of African Butterfly fish mates! Providing them with extra stimulation and mimics their natural eating pattern released in the future to aim for the time. Are all things to look out for live in different habitats than adults, normally shallower areas inside corals. 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