Speckled Butterflyfish (Chaetodon citrinellus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Speckled Butterflyfish has a bright yellow body with distinctive black spots or speckles covering the head and sides. It displays a black band through the eye and black markings on the dorsal and anal fins, with a streamlined, laterally compressed body typical of butterflyfish.
Diet and feeding
In the wild, Chaetodon citrinellus feeds on coral polyps, crustaceans, and small benthic organisms. In captivity, provide a varied diet of high-quality marine flakes, mysis shrimp, chopped squid, and small copepods. Feed 2-3 times daily in small portions.
Difficulty and care for the Speckled Butterflyfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Coral polyp dependency, parasitic infections (ich, velvet), poor feeding in captivity, fin rot
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef and the Philippines westward to the Red Sea and East Africa. Found in coral reef environments at depths of 5 to 40 meters.
Log Speckled 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 Speckled Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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