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Teardrop Butterflyfish

Onespot Butterflyfish

Family: ChaetodontidaePicture of a Teardrop Butterflyfish or Onespot Butterflyfish, Chaetodon unimaculatusChaetodon unimaculatusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
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What is the Teardrop Butterfly Fish's Life Cycle.......................... (need answer-For marine science project Highschool Class)  Anonymous

   The Teardrop Butterflyfish are a really beautifully colored fish, but they can be rather difficult to keep.

   It spends most of its time in heavily populated coral areas eating stony and soft corals, sponge, algae, and polychaete worms (marine worms).  The Teardrop Butterflyfish specimens from Australia and the Pacific islands have a white ground color like the photo above, while those from the Indian Ocean and the western portion of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago are yellow.

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


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

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    The Teardrop Butterflyfish has a large range that extends from the Hawaiian Islands west to the tropical Indo-Pacific and the east coast of Africa. They are found at depths of 4 to 20 meters (13 to 66 ft.).

Maintenance difficulty:    The Teardrop Butterflyfish is difficult to keep. It's dominant natural food is corals. Some say that once it is acclimated, it will do well though.

Maintenance:    It is important that you feed Butterfly fish a good variety of live, frozen, and prepared formula foods with emphasis on vegetables and spirulina. These foods can include live brine, flakes, and frozen foods of all kinds including Formula I, Formula II, Angel Formula and spirulina. Several sponge based frozen foods are now available and can also be fed to butterflyfish. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.

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

Foods:    Mainly found in areas with prolific coral growth. The Teardrop Butterflyfish eat stony and soft corals, sponge, algae, and polychaete worms (marine worms).

Social Behaviors:    Usually found in groups of two, three, or more fish, they are not common and are usually timid.

Sexual differences:    Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Probably will not be accomplished in captivity. See the description in Breeding Marine Fish for information on reproductive habits.

Picture of a Teardrop Butterflyfish or Onespot Butterflyfish, Chaetodon unimaculatus
Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy
Greg Rothschild

Temperature:    No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 75 and 79 degrees.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Teardrop Butterflyfish adults can grow to 20 cm (8 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 50 gallon aquarium is recommended. Provide rockwork and hiding places.

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

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Swims all over the aquarium.

Availability:    This fish is generally rarely available and is fairly expensive.

Author: David Brough. CFS.


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Lastest Comments on Teardrop Butterflyfish

Anonymous - 2011-11-27
What is the Teardrop Butterfly Fish's Life Cycle..........................
(need answer-For marine science project Highschool Class)

Reply

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