Spot-Nape Butterflyfish (Chaetodon oxycephalus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Hard care. Not Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
A small butterflyfish with a distinctive yellow body and white-edged black vertical bands. The most recognizable feature is a black spot or patch on the nape (back of the head/neck area), which gives the species its common name. The face is pale with black eye-bars characteristic of the genus Chaetodon.
Diet and feeding
In the wild, Spot-Nape Butterflyfish feed on small crustaceans and zooplankton. In captivity, they require frequent small meals of live or fresh foods such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, or copepods. Many refuse dried or standard frozen preparations and require acclimation to captive diets.
Difficulty and care for the Spot-Nape Butterflyfish
The Spot-Nape Butterflyfish is difficult in captivity. It is notoriously selective about diet, often refusing prepared foods, and demands excellent water quality and stable conditions. Success requires patience and typically specialized live or fresh foods.
Common health issues
Marine ich, Fin rot, Swim bladder disorder, Hole-in-the-head disease, Velvet disease
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and westward to the Hawaiian Islands and tropical waters of the western Indian Ocean.
Log Spot-Nape 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 Spot-Nape Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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