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Peppered Butterflyfish

Family: ChaetodontidaeChaetodon guttatissimusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Hiroyuki Tanaka

   The Peppered Butterfly fish is a pretty little thing!...but not recommended for beginners.

   Like other coral polyp eaters, the Peppered Butterflyfish can be a challenge to keep. Coral polyps can be a difficult food to provide in an average marine aquarium environment!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Chaetodon guttatissimus Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Chaetodontidae

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Found only in the Indian Ocean.

Maintenance difficulty:    The Peppered Butterflyfish is generally difficult to keep. Generally only juveniles can be induced to eat.

Maintenance:    Feed as most butterflyfish, live brine, marine formula, spirulina formulas.

Diseases that Marine Butterflyfish are susceptible to:
Marine Ich(white spot disease), Marine Velvet, Uronema marinum, and Lymphocystis

Foods:    Coral polyps, algae, polychaete worms.

Social Behaviors:    Unknown

Sex: Sexual differences:    Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Not accomplished in captivity. See Breeding Marine Fish page for a description of how they reproduce in the wild.

Temperature:    No special requirements.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Peppered Butterflyfish adults can grow to 12 cm ( 4.8 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 40 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    No special requirements.

Availability:    This fish is generally rare.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

Lastest Comments on Peppered Butterflyfish View all 2 comments on Peppered Butterflyfish Add Your Comment

EUGENE THERON - 2007-07-26 how lucky can you be? I caught a gorgeous gussy at The Heads Knysna (month January 2007). No problem with teaching it to eat. Also a handnet and snorkel and goggles. Thank you. EUGENE Reply

Kevin Jordan - 2003-09-06 Very pleased to say that i captured a specimen of this butterfly. location : Durban, North Pier, South Africa. Date of capture : 31st August 2003. Size : approx 6cm in length. Method of capture : Snorkel,mask and hand held net. Regulations here do not allow for capture of fish with scuba gear. ( licence is required to capture and keep local marine specimens ) comment : Local name as per Smiths Fishes is a Gorgeous Gussy. I put the fish into my main display tank shortly after arriving home from the dive, within two hours the fish was pecking at the Tetra-bits i had put in the tank. The following morning the fish was eating a bit of the Tetra-bits, six days later he has made his presence in the tank well known to the other occupants and fights vigorously for food. Kevin Jordan Email : kevinj60@hotmail.com Reply

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