The name ‘Butterfly’ is given to this species of fish for a reason. As you can, the fish itself has ridiculous amounts of color to it. By far one of the most beautiful coral fish seen by swimmers. It’s not news that such a beautiful fish comes from the cousin of the Angel Fish species.
There are over a hundred different species of Butterfly Fish. Though most of them enjoy their time to themselves, some species do form small schools. You will see these guys relentlessly searching for food in coral and rocks. They have a very long like snout that makes it very manageable to get into small crevices to find their prey. Most of their meals consist of small invertebrates and worms. Feeding all day long is not an unusual site for Butterfly fish.
Popularity in Aquarium Fish Tanks
Due to how beautiful these fish are, it makes for a very appealing fish for in an aquarium. Because these fish are big time feeders, aquarium owners usually have to have descent size coral reef invested into their tank to keep them hunting live prey.
The shape of their mouths make it possible for them to fit into small crevices other fish are unable to get at. This species is an incredible hunter that keeps at the hunt all day long.
Tendencies & Characteristics
The Butterfly fish species have a routine of searching out and establishing a home near coral. Water depths of 50-100 feet with lots of coral structure will be its ideal living habitat. The coral reefs are a huge factor to their living style. Not only is the reef constantly dug through looking for food but it is also known as their territory stomping grounds.
They will school up small groups together and show territorial tendencies to other fish trespassing in their coral. During dark hours of the night, sleeping is done by laying down their bodies in coral structures suitable for hiding.
The vibrant colors the Butterfly fish has during the daylight change a bit at night to help dilute their appearance to predators. A very well needed adaption considering how vibrant colored this fish is.
Because Butterfly fish are always around their home living structure of coral, they become extremely well at hiding from predators while being chased. This size fish of 4-7 inches is on the feeding menu of lots of larger creatures looking for a tasty meal. Very bright vibrant colors usually put it first on the food schedule to be chased after too.
There is said to be 90+ sub specie types of the butterfly fish. The two main differences between them all is the cosmetic difference and small difference in size. People commonly mistake the freshwater and saltwater to be the same but they are for sure entirely different species.
Mating and Love Partners
Once in love, always in love. Butterfly fish stick with their mates forever and that is a true value to look up to. The two stick together and mate with each other the same time every cycle. The female lays her eggs then the male comes in to fertilize them. They also do not sit and watch over their young but instead move forth onto their next venture.
As far as breeding them in aquariums, it is leveled at an expert status aquarist to act on. Butterfly fish are already difficult fish to keep up with water parameters, but in order to breed them the water needs to be exactly perfect. This is a wry tough fish to breed. Again, expert level aquarist is advised upon this only.
*Aquatic Alert: Certain species of shrimp help clean your aquarium.
Most Common Questions Asked
What do Butterfly Fish eat in Fish Aquariums?
Most fish that are “able” to live and survive in aquariums, they have designed an enriched vitamin food for them in different forms. Flakes, pellets, and so forth. The importance with most fish is to give them a wide variety of different types of foods so they’re not eating the same food every single day. In natural habitat of marine waters, the butterfly fish is feeding on small crustaceans and invertebrates found in coral. They are constantly digging inside of coral canals for small snakes and hunting 12 hours of the day.