 : The Butterflyfishes
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Taxonomy:
Perciformes,
Butterflyfishes
(Chaetodontidae) General Information: Butterflyfishes include some of the most colorful species for the home aquarium. They have deep laterally compressed bodies and long continuous dorsal fins. Some species are nearly impossible to acclimate to the home aquarium. Most butterflyfishes are shallow reef species that occur at less than 150 feet. They are not readily caught by reef predators, which is likely a function of their eye masks (confuses predators), bright colors (warns predators), and zig-zag swimming (eludes predators). Diet: Most species are predaceous, feeding on bottom-dwelling invertebrates - amphipods, zooplankton, polychaetes, etc. Some species do feed on algae. Many species feed on the polyps of stony or soft corals. This behavior makes many species unsuitable for a reef aquarium. Final Note: The success of keeping butterflyfishes depends largely on the species. Some species readily feed on frozen foods and will even eat algae while other species refuse to feed in the home aquarium. All butterflyfishes require good water quality, and a good protein skimmer, live rock, and live sand will help to maintain this. Most species will pick at corals, so they do not make good additions to a reef tank. Always check the natural history of the species before making a selection for your home aquarium. Examples at SeaScape Studio: Back |
