Butterfly Fish Species

There are over 100 species of fish that are included in the Butterfly fishes but many are not recommended for the home aquarium for a few different reasons. Some of the fish in this family are known "corallivores" which means they will eat coral polyps. This food source can be difficult and expensive to reproduce in most home aquariums. They don't handle shipping very well either. Slow acclimation and quarantine is recommended before introducing into a display fish tank with other fishes.

The Butterflys are usually found in shallower waters off the coast where there is high water movement, slightly warmer water temperatures and lots of places for them to hide. It can be a good idea to try and recreate this in your aquarium. Use some powerheads to create more water movement, which should increase the amount of oxygen in the water and make it a little warmer from the heat produced by the submerged power heads.

Some are worse than others when it comes to survivability in the aquarium with many species being on the "hard to keep" list. Research the butterfly species you're interested in before bringing it home from the store. Ask the fish store to hold it for a week or so and ask them to feed it before you buy it. If they don't want to hold it for you, offer to make a deposit, it may change their mind.

Fish Picture Fish Common Name Fish Scientific Name

Copperband Butterfly Fish
Chelmon rostratus Copperband Butterfly Fish

Longfin Bannerfish
Heniochus acuminatus Longfin Bannerfish

Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula Raccoon Butterfly Fish

Fish Picture	Fish Common Name	Fish Scientific Name
	Chelmon rostratus	Copperband Butterfly Fish
	Heniochus acuminatus	Longfin Bannerfish
	Chaetodon lunula	Raccoon Butterfly Fish