Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
Chaetodon austriacus is a small butterflyfish with a predominantly yellow body and white head. It displays a distinctive black band on the tail fin (caudal peduncle), which gives the species its common name. The dorsal fin contains black markings, and there is typically a dark eye stripe characteristic of Chaetodon species.
Diet and feeding
In captivity, feed a varied diet of high-quality flaked foods, frozen mysis shrimp, and finely chopped frozen foods designed for small reef fish. This species benefits from multiple small feedings throughout the day to match its natural feeding behavior.
Difficulty and care for the Blacktail Butterflyfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Ich, parasitic infections, poor appetite, lateral line erosion
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and extending eastward to the Great Barrier Reef and Indo-Malaysian waters.
Log Blacktail Butterflyfish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Blacktail Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
Related Fish
