Tahitian Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon trichrous)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Lighting: High
Color Form: Black, Tan
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Tahiti
Family: Chaetodontidae
Reproduction: Egg Layer
Swim Level: All

The front half of the Tahitian Butterflyfish has a gray color while the back half is dark brown to black. It has a black bar through the eyes and the caudal (tail) fin is gray.

The Tahitian Butterflyfish requires plenty of room to swim, and a peaceful community aquarium of 50 gallons or larger. It may be kept singly; if kept as a pair, both fish should be introduced to the aquarium at the same time.

Its diet should consist of chopped meats such as marine fish, crustacean meats, or mysis shrimp. A vitamin formula with the meats may help keep the colors bright.

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Tinkerii Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon tinkerii)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: No
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Black, Orange, White, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Hawaii
Family: Chaetodontidae
Reproduction: Egg Layer
Swim Level: All

The Tinkerii Butterflyfish is also known as the Hawaiian Butterflyfish or Tinker’s Butterflyfish. The anterior half is white with black dots on each scale and the posterior part of the body is black. Shades of yellow and orange mark the face, dorsal fin, and tail.

The Tinkerii Butterflyfish requires a moderately lit, 70-75º, 50 gallon or larger fish-only aquarium. It is not suitable for reef tanks since it eats mushroom corals, anemones, and stony corals in the wild.

The diet should consist of different meaty items and some vegetables.

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Mitratus Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon mitratus)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Black, Orange, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Maldives
Family: Chaetodontidae
Reproduction: Egg Layer
Swim Level: All

The Mitratus Butterflyfish, also known as the Black and Yellow Butterflyfish or the Indian Butterflyfish, is yellow with a bluish coloration on the dorsal fin. It has two black stripes that run diagonally and a bold stripe across the eye that is black above, and orange below.

The Mitratus Butterflyfish will do well in a 50 gallon or larger aquarium that provides ample hiding places and plenty of room to swim. The Mitratus Butterflyfish prefers aquariums with live rock so that it may eat the algae. It also feeds on worms, bottom dwelling invertebrates, along with plankton.

In the aquarium, the diet can consist of finely chopped crustacean meat and mysis shrimp.

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Golden Semilarvatus Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon semilarvatus)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 9″
Color Form: Blue, Orange, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Red Sea
Family: Chaetodontidae
Reproduction: Egg Layer
Swim Level: All

The Golden Semilarvatus Butterflyfish, also known as the Golden Butterflyfish or Red-lined Butterflyfish, is bright yellow with a series of closely-spaced orange stripes on the sides, and a dark blue-gray patch behind the eyes.

A 50 gallon or larger aquarium with peaceful tank mates provides a good environment. The Golden Semilarvatus Butterflyfish can be kept in pairs or small groups in a larger aquarium.

A diet of vitamin-enriched live foods or fresh clams may be needed in the beginning. Provide herbivore preparations once the fish begins eating.

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True Falcula Butterflyfish
(Chaetodon falcula)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: With Caution
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 8″
Color Form: Black, White, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Maldives
Family: Chaetodontidae

The Falcula Butterflyfish, also known as the Sickle Butterflyfish, is mostly white becoming yellow dorsally. It has a series of narrow black stripes on its sides, two patches of black on the dorsal side, and a black eye band.

A 100 gallon or larger fish-only aquarium with other butterflyfish is a good environment. The Falcula Butterflyfish will eat anemones, hard corals, and mushroom anemones causing problems in a reef aquarium.

It should be fed a variety of meaty foods, crustacean flesh, mysis shrimp, frozen preparations, with an occasional anemone as a treat.

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