Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Hard care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Ornate Butterflyfish is a bright yellow fish with bold white and black vertical stripes running along its body. A distinctive black eyeband passes through the eye, and the tail fin displays striking black and white banding. The body is laterally compressed with a small mouth adapted for picking food from reef crevices.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet of high-quality frozen and dried marine foods including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and quality flake foods. Supplement with small amounts of finely minced seafood and spirulina-based preparations multiple times daily.
Difficulty and care for the Ornate Butterflyfish
The Ornate Butterflyfish is challenging to keep in captivity due to its specialized feeding habits and sensitivity to water quality changes. It requires excellent tank conditions, frequent small meals, and a well-established reef system to thrive.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, nutritional deficiencies, feeding difficulties in captivity
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from Indonesia and the Philippines westward to the Red Sea, including the Great Barrier Reef and extending to Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands.
Log Ornate 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 Ornate Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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