Many-Spined Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys multispinosus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
A small butterflyfish with a predominantly white body and distinctive multiple dark vertical stripes running along the flanks. The head and anterior body are yellow to orange-yellow, with black markings around the eye and on the gill covers. The dorsal fin displays the characteristic many spines that give the species its name.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet including high-quality flake foods, small pellets, and frequent offerings of frozen zooplankton (mysis shrimp, copepods). Supplement with small amounts of herbivorous material and live rock grazing to promote natural feeding behavior.
Difficulty and care for the Many-Spined Butterflyfish
Moderate difficulty. Many-Spined Butterflyfish require stable conditions and can be sensitive to water quality swings. They may nip at stony corals and some soft corals, so careful placement in reef systems is necessary.
Common health issues
Marine ich, head and lateral line erosion (HLLE), parasitic infections, loss of appetite in captivity
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and extending east to the Hawaiian Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
Log Many-Spined 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 Many-Spined Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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