 |
Spot-banded ButterflyfishDot-and-Dash ButterflyfishFamily: Chaetodontidae Chaetodon punctatofasciatusBe the first to add a comment! The Spot-banded Butterflyfish is not only beautiful, but is one of the few butterflyfish that can be easy to keep!Spot Banded Butterflyfish Contents The Spot-banded Butterflyfish is an attractive and relatively hardy species. It is one of the easier butterflyfish to keep in captive environment. No technical care is needed to maintain it. They have a hearty appetite and take a variety of foods, and still won't outgrow your aquarium (up to 5" max)! Once acclimated it will even go up to the surface to take foods from its keepers. Many reef-keepers hope to keep the Spot-banded Butterflyfish in a mini reef, but as it will be a coral eater it is best kept in a fish only community tank. They are a little shy, especially when young, but are not an aggressive species. They won't mind friends, and a companion that is the same species or a another butterflyfish is a good choice. Other fish with a similar temperament will also make good tank mates. Though not a very quick swimmer, it swims freely and usually spends a good deal of its time in the open water.
For more Information on keeping marine fish see: |
 |
||||
|
Habitat: Natural geographic location: The Spot-banded Butterflyfish was described by Cuvier in 1831. They are found in the Indo-Pacific Oceans; In the Indian Ocean from the Christmas Island in the east to the Line Islands to the west, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Rowley Shoals and the northern Great Barrier Reef, and throughout Micronesia.
Adults are often seen in pairs in their natural habitat, and occasionally it is seen singly or in groups. It is frequently found swimming with They dwell in coral-rich off-shore reefs; areas of back reefs, reef faces, and fore-reef slopes, at depths between 3 - 148 feet (1- 45 meters).
In the southern part of their range it is frequently found swimming with a similar looking butterflyfish, C. pelewensis, the Sunset or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish. Occasionally they will hybridize.
Status: These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.
Description: The adult Spot-banded Butterflyfish have a yellowish brown body. There are several deep brown bands running vertically, becoming a dot pattern anteriorly. There is an orange area on the caudal peduncle, an orange band edged by black through the eye, and a black spot on the nape. The fins are a yellowish brown except for the pelvic fins which are white. The dorsal and anal fin both have a yellow margin with a black submarginal line. The caudal fin is yellow basally with a black line centrally and the rest is transparent. Juveniles are very similar.
It is closely related and very similar in body shape and colors to the Sunset Butterflyfish C. pelewensis, and they mix in some ranges. Hybrid crosses are observed and shipped from these areas on occasion. The hybrids have intermediate but variable color patterns of the parental species. Some of the patterns are rather complicated with irregular bands and spots, however almost all cases can be readily distinguished from other species of Chaetodon.
Length/Diameter of fish: Adults reach about 4.7 inches (12 cm).
Maintenance difficulty: The Spot- banded Butterflyfish is one of the easiest butterflyfish to keep in a captive environment. No technical care is needed to maintain it. In the aquarium it will take a variety of foods and can be kept for some period. As it will harm polyps of some stony and soft coral species, it is not recommended for reef-type aquariums.
Many of the Chaetodon members are often very colorful and attractive to aquarists. Unfortunately some of them are rather difficult to keep for a long period. Some are exclusively coral eaters, and sometimes they suffer from "ich" (white spot disease) and other infectious diseases.They can be treated successfully with medical care or copper drugs, but some species hate sudden changes of water including PH, temperature, or any drug treatment.
In the wild a cleaner wrasse (Labroides sp.) will help them by taking parasites from their bodies, however these wrasses are extremely difficult to sustain in captivity. Alternative fish such as Neon Gobies (Gobiosoma spp.) can help them by providing this cleaning service in the home aquarium.
Diseases that Marine Butterflyfish are susceptible to:
Marine Ich(white spot disease), Marine Velvet, Uronema marinum, and Lymphocystis
Foods: The Spot-banded Butterflyfish are omnivores. In the wild they eat lots of filamentous algae, hard and soft coral polyps, polychaete worm tentacles and copepods. In the aquarium it will readily accept substitute foods. Provide a variety of finely chopped meaty foods such as fresh or frozen seafood, live brineshrimp, and blackworms, dried flakes, shrimps, tablets, and Japanese Nori (Asakusa-nori). They have a very small mouth so all foods must be very fine. Also provide lots of algae and prepared frozen formulas including those containing algae. If possible, a tank with lots of filamentous algae will be greatly appreciated. Once it is acclimated it can become hardy and live for some period. Feed it at least twice a day, and if it is a tiny juvenile, feeding should be tried three to four times everyday.
Maintenance: Though not a very quick swimmer it swims freely, usually spending a good deal of its time in the open water and moving in and out of crevices. Frequent water changes are not necessary, rather normal water changes at 10% biweekly or 20% monthly are fine. Sudden massive water changes can cause trouble.
For more information see, Marine Aquarium Basics: Maintenance
Aquarium Parameters:
This fish is not a very quick swimmer and will spend a good deal of its time in the open areas. Even so, the tank should be well decorated with rocks/ corals with many hiding places, even for adults. This fish will nip at the polyps of hard and soft coral species, so it is not recommended for coral-rich reefs.
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
A minimum 50 gallon (190 liters) or larger.
Light: Recommended light levels
It is best kept under the normal lighting conditions, but can also be kept under very bright light as long as some dimly lit spaces are provided.
Temperature:
This species lives in both tropical areas. Temperatures between 72 -79° F (22 - 26° C) will serve them well, but temperatures higher than 84° F (29° C) or below 68° F (20° C) would not be good.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
Water movement is not a significant factor. It can tolerate a rather strong flow but slow-moving water will be more favorable.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
It swims freely and usually spends time in the open water.
Social Behaviors: The Spot-banded Butterflyfish is a non-reef safe fish. Though it does well in a coral-rich tank, it will nip the polyps of hard and soft coral species. It it best kept in a fish only community tank that is well decorated with rocks/ corals and many hiding places.
This species is not an aggressive fish and will get along well with other butterflyfish, as well as other members of its own kind. It is best to select tank mates that are not overly territorial or aggressive. It can however be kept with the larger and rather territorial angelfishes like Pomacanthus and Holacanthus. Centropyge, along with other angelfish members of Apolemichthys, Genicanthus, Chaetodontoplus and Pygoplites could also be good tank mates. Smaller non-aggressive fishes like cardinalfish, gobies, tilefish, fairy basslets, fairy and flasher wrasses, etc. are also good candidates as tank mates. Small but very territorial fishes like dottybacks should be avoided. Such fish as Basses or scorpionfish, even if they are small enough, should also be avoided. Larger frogfishes can swallow everything, so also should be avoided.
Sex: Sexual differences: No sexual difference is noted for this species. Butterflyfish species studied up to this time indicate that these fish are gonochoristic, meaning that each fish is either a male or a female and they do not change sex.
Breeding/Reproduction: This species has not been cultivated in captivity. Marine butterflyfish have not reportedly been spawned successfully in captivity. There are, however, reports of some success in rearing wild collected larvae of some of the corallivorous butterflyfish. It is hoped these captive reared fish will be adapted to accept aquarium foods, and thus broaden the species selections that can be sustained in captivity.
For more information see, Marine Fish Breeding.
Availability: The Spot-banded Butterflyfish or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish is often available at retailers, and can be acquired in various sizes. This fish is priced starting from about $20.00 USD and up.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 
|
|||||
|
International Index Pages |
|||||
| Join Dr. Jungle on Facebook - People Talking About Their Pets | |||||
