A Butterflyfish for the Aquarium

The Best Butterflyfishes to Choose for a Saltwater Aquarium

Apr 2, 2008

While most butterflyfishes are not appropriate for captivity, there are a few of these remarkably beautiful fish appropriate for the marine aquarist.

Butterflyfishes are some of the most beautiful and recognizable saltwater aquarium fishes. While most butterflyfishes (there are around 120 known species) are poor choices for the marine aquarium, there are several which are appropriate, even for the beginning marine aquarist.

Brightly-Colored Fishes

Butterflyfishes are generally brightly colored fishes that are easy to recognize. Most have a long snout, a pancake-shaped body and an obvious eye spot on the back portion of their body. Butterflyfishes, while concentrated in the tropical Indo-Pacific, can be found around the world (four species are indigenous to the Eastern Pacific and 13 species live in the Atlantic).

Not Reef Compatible

Most butterflyfishes are not reef compatible, meaning that they are best suited for fish only aquaria. There are a few exceptions such as the Zoster Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster) and the Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus). These two species will usually leave soft and stony corals alone.

General Habitat and Care

Butterflyfishes prefer a large, generally peaceful aquarium with lots of swimming space. Most also appreciate at least two caves into which they can retreat. They require excellent water quality with a high pH (8.2-8.3). An appropriately rated protein skimmer is a must with butterflyfishes, as is lots of water movement for oxygenation of the water column. While there are temperate species occasionally seen in the hobby, most butterflyfishes will do fine in a typical tropical tank between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feeding

One reason for butterflyfishes’ reputation as difficult to keep fish has to do with the fact that most species are notoriously finicky eaters. You may well need to offer a new butterflyfish live food in order to get it to eat. Most of the species recommended below, however, will take frozen food in time. It’s always a good idea to ask your retailer if you can put down a down payment on a butterflyfish and wait until it is eating well on a captive diet before taking it home. Once acclimated, butterflyfishes do appreciate frequent feedings. Meaty table seafood may be offered from time to time.

Diseases, Parasites and Infections

Butterflyfishes are very susceptible to most common diseases, parasites and infections that plague marine fishes. Thankfully, they also tend to respond well to standard treatments. Many experienced aquarists prefer to use a collection cup instead of a net when moving a butterflyfish. This is because most butterflyfish have sharp spines, fins and a snout that can easily get tangled and, as a result, torn or damaged in a net. Unfortunately, these wounds are often fatal.

Recommended Species

If you decide to keep a butterflyfish in your saltwater aquarium, keep the above suggestions in mind, and consider one of the species recommended below. These butterflyfishes are particularly well adapted to the captive environment.

Price Sampling

All of these species can be purchased online for between $22 and $37 each for a medium sized specimen. For example:

The copyright of the article A Butterflyfish for the Aquarium in Saltwater Fish is owned by Ret Talbot. Permission to republish A Butterflyfish for the Aquarium in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.