Mirror Butterflyfish (Chaetodon speculum)

Quick facts

Appearance

The Mirror Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped species with a distinctive white or pale silver body marked by bold black vertical bands and a characteristic large black spot (ocellus) on its side that resembles a mirror or eye-spot. The dorsal and anal fins are yellow to orange, and the face displays dark markings typical of the genus Chaetodon.

Diet and feeding

In captivity, offer a varied diet of quality marine flakes, pellets, small frozen foods (mysis shrimp, copepods, brine shrimp), and occasional live foods. Butterflyfish in this genus are natural coral and sponge feeders, so supplementing with sponge-based preparations or specialized butterflyfish diets improves long-term health and coloration.

Difficulty and care for the Mirror Butterflyfish

The Mirror Butterflyfish is a difficult species suited only to experienced aquarists. It has poor feeding transition rates to captive diets, requires excellent water quality and stable conditions, and its natural coral and sponge diet is difficult to replicate in home aquaria. Many specimens starve slowly despite apparent feeding.

Common health issues

Ich, parasitic infections, nutritional deficiencies, failed feeding transition in captivity

Origin and habitat

Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa eastward to the Great Barrier Reef and beyond to Hawaii and the Line Islands. Found on coral reef slopes and drop-offs at depths typically between 20 and 200 meters.