Dusky Butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris)

Quick facts

Appearance

The Dusky Butterflyfish is predominantly dark gray to blackish with a distinctive bright yellow or orange mouth and snout, which gives the species its name. The body is compressed laterally with the characteristic deep, oval profile typical of butterflyfishes, and it displays a subtle dark band through the eye.

Diet and feeding

In captivity, offer a varied diet of high-quality marine flakes, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped meaty foods. Supplement with occasional vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or spirulina-based foods.

Difficulty and care for the Dusky Butterflyfish

The Dusky Butterflyfish is moderately challenging, requiring stable water conditions, a well-established tank with ample live rock for grazing, and careful acclimation. While hardier than some butterflyfish species, it is susceptible to parasitic infections and demands consistent care.

Common health issues

Ich (white spot disease), marine velvet, fin rot, parasitic infections

Origin and habitat

Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian Ocean to Indonesia and the western Philippines. Found in reef environments at depths typically between 5 and 40 meters.