About Butterflyfish. Butterflyfish belong to the
chaetodontidae family
of fish , and there are about 130
different species
found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the wild, these marine fish get a large part of their diet from corals, which means they are not reef-safe species.
Which is famous for
butterfly fish
?
Butterfly Fish Distribution, Population, and Habitat The greatest concentration of species is found in a stretch of Pacific territory between Australia and Taiwan Only four species occur in the Eastern Pacific and 13 in the Atlantic Ocean.
Is a butterfly fish saltwater or freshwater?
They thrive in saltwater with around 120 species in all. They are mostly found in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. 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.
Is Angelfish a butterfly fish?
There are two readily identifiable differences. First, Angelfish always have at least one prominent spine on the posterior edge of the gill cover, while Butterflys have spiny dorsal fins Second, Angels have a blunt shaped head while Butterflyfish have a beak-like snout.
How many species of butterfly fish are there?
There are at least 114 species of butterflyfish.
Can you keep 2 butterfly fish together?
Some can be added together without much issue, others it is best to add close to the same time Some butterflies are very hardy, others quite delicate. Most are not reef safe.
Is butterfly fish poisonous?
The flesh of the
reef butterflyfish
is not toxic , but they are generally not harvested for food. They are, however, taken for the aquarium trade. Their diet may make them somewhat of a problem to maintain, though the juveniles seem to thrive better in captivity than the adults.
Can butterfly fish survive in freshwater?
The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a freshwater species that has been around for quite some time Another common name for this animal is the Freshwater Butterfly Fish. Author Note: People commonly confuse this species with saltwater butterflyfishes.
Are butterfly fish hard to keep?
Some species of Butterflyfish are hardy and adapt well to aquarium life, whereas others are near impossible to keep Because Butterflyfish are extremely difficult to breed in captivity, it’s likely that your fish will need to adapt to tank life. They are also quite vulnerable to parasite infections.
Are butterfly fish easy to care for?
The Atlantic long snout butterflyfish grows to only 4 inches long and it is moderately difficult to keep These fish feed on
small invertebrates
and they tend to live alone rather than in pairs.
What do I feed my butterfly fish?
Unless otherwise noted in individual species profiles, most all Butterflyfishes can be fed a varied diet of vitamin-enriched marine fish, crustacean, and mollusk flesh, mysid shrimp, and any appropriate frozen preparations suitable for carnivores.
How much does a butterfly fish cost?
A butterflyfish typically costs between $20 and $60 While this price range is typical for many butterflyfish, they can vary in cost. Butterflyfish are priced according to their species and cost anywhere up to $4,000, depending on their unique characteristics and rarity.
How long do butterfly fish live?
Due to climate changes and ocean pollution in the last couple of decades, the number of butterflyfish has decreased drastically. How long do butterflyfish live? The average lifespan of a butterfly- fish in the wild is seven years.
Can you keep butterfly fish in a reef tank?
butterflyfishes are most abundant on deepwater reefs where they graze on sessile invertebrates and occasional coral polyps. In captivity, they are generally a risk to keep in mixed coral aquariums but it is a risk many people are willing to take given their extraordinary beauty.
Why is it called butterfly fish?
The family Chaetodontidae, a combination of the ancient Greek words for “hair” and “tooth”, to which butterflyfishes belong, is named after their special comblike teeth These fishes also have a protruding mouth, which helps them feed in crevices.
Where are butterfly fish located?
The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. The approximately 129 species in 12 genera are found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
What size tank does a butterflyfish need?
A minimum of a 50-gallon tank is recommended for one butterflyfish, depending on the species, however, a much larger aquarium is needed for a school of butterflyfish as they need ample room to swim.
What makes a butterfly fish unique?
Butterfly fish has flattened disk-shaped body It has round tail and uninterrupted dorsal fin. Another interesting feature on the body is elongated nose. It helps the fish to reach the food from the crevice of rocks.
What do you feed African butterfly fish?
African butterfly fish will readily eat spiders, flies, crickets, and mealworms However, these fish will also accept most frozen and live foods, like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Will butterfly fish eat snails?
Avoid housing raccoon butterflyfish with small, territorial fish, like triggerfish, scorpionfish, and clownfish, and invertebrates like shrimp and snails, which raccoon butterflyfish are known to eat.
How big can a butterfly fish get?
Description and habits. Freshwater butterfly fish are small, no more than 13 cm (5.1 in) in length , with very large pectoral fins. It has a large and well-vascularized swim bladder, enabling it to breathe air at the surface of the water. It is carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects and smaller fishes.
What are the main types of fish?
Scientists group fish into three main types. They are divided into these groups because of the structure of their mouths and the types of skeletons they have. There are jawless fishes, cartilaginous (cart uhl AJ uh nuhs) fishes, and bony fishes.
Can you mix butterfly fish?
These fish are fine when kept either singly, in pairs, or in small small groups but mixing them together with other Butterflyfish can be a problem Great care is needed when trying to include different Butterfly fish in the same tank, and is often best avoided.
Do butterfly fish have teeth?
Yes, butterflyfish have teeth They have small, close-set, and comb-like sets of teeth. Butterflyfish have evolved with these teeth in order to eat coral, shrimp, plankton, and crustaceans. Despite their teeth, most species of butterflyfish are not aggressive and will work nicely as tank mates for other fish.
How big can a African Butterfly Fish get?
The African Butterfly Fish is usually 5 inches long in the wild, but they tend to be smaller in captivity, only growing to about 4 inches.
What is the hardiest butterfly fish?
The Auriga Butterflyfish, also known as the Threadfin Butterflyfish , is one of the more popular and readily available butterflyfish. Generally a hardy species, in the wild it is found on inner and outer reef slopes. As with many fish, the Threadfin Butterfly’s color and markings can vary with the region of origin.
Do butterfly fish eat zoanthids?
These are perfectly safe for your reef and enjoy swimming around open waters rather than picking on your favorite Scolymia. As with some examples of freak surgeonfish eating zoanthids , there may be a chance that your pyramid butterflyfish will take a liking to your coral, however remote.