Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
A medium-sized butterflyfish with distinctive yellow and white coloration. The body displays bold vertical bars or bands in yellow and white, with yellow dorsal and anal fins. The face typically shows dark markings around the eye and mouth characteristic of the genus Chaetodon.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet of high-quality marine flakes, small pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, and frozen copepods. Offer small amounts 2–3 times daily. Include occasional vegetable matter or spirulina-based foods to meet the omnivorous diet of butterflyfish.
Difficulty and care for the Madagascar Butterflyfish
The Madagascar Butterflyfish requires moderate care. It is generally hardier than some other butterfly species but demands stable water conditions, good water quality, and varied nutrition. It is best kept singly or in established pairs and may nip at coral polyps in smaller systems.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, parasitic infections, nutritional deficiencies, stress-related decline
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, endemic to Madagascar and nearby coastal areas of the western Indian Ocean.
Log Madagascar 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 Madagascar Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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