Teardrop Butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Teardrop Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped fish with predominantly white body coloration accented by yellow tones on the dorsal fin and upper body. It features a distinctive dark teardrop or comma-shaped marking near the eye and a dark spot on the soft dorsal fin, along with faint vertical bars on the body.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet of high-quality flaked foods, pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, and small crustaceans. Provide small amounts of vegetable matter such as spirulina-based foods. Feed 2-3 times daily in small quantities.
Difficulty and care for the Teardrop Butterflyfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish are moderately difficult to maintain. They require stable water conditions, can be picky eaters when first acclimated, and may nip at soft corals and clams, particularly if underfed. Establishing a feeding routine is critical to their success.
Common health issues
Ich, marine velvet, fin damage from aggression, poor appetite upon acclimation
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian Ocean to the western and central Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef and extending to the Hawaiian Islands.
Log Teardrop 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 Teardrop Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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