Dusky Butterflyfish (Chaetodon dusky)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Dusky Butterflyfish displays a dark grayish-brown body with yellow dorsal and anal fins. It has a distinctive black mask-like marking across the eyes and exhibits a compressed, disc-shaped body typical of the butterflyfish family. A thin white or pale vertical bar may be visible on the body.
Diet and feeding
In captivity, feed a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, small pellets, and frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. Supplement with vegetable matter and offer foods 2-3 times daily.
Difficulty and care for the Dusky Butterflyfish
The Dusky Butterflyfish is moderately challenging, requiring stable water conditions and a well-established reef aquarium. It may be finicky about accepting prepared foods and can be sensitive to rapid environmental changes.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, feeding refusal, nutritional deficiencies
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and extending eastward through Indonesia to the western Pacific. Found in reef environments from depths of 5 to 40 meters.
Log Dusky 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 Dusky Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
Related Fish
