Tinker's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Expert care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
Tinker's Butterflyfish is a small, distinctive species with a primarily yellow body and vertical black bands. It features a blue-rimmed eye and characteristic black markings on the head and body, with a white ventral region. The species has the typical compressed, deep-bodied butterflyfish shape.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet including high-quality marine flakes, small frozen foods (mysis shrimp, copepods), and occasional live microfauna. Frequent small feedings are important for this species, which naturally feeds on small crustaceans and zooplankton in the deep reef.
Difficulty and care for the Tinker's Butterflyfish
Tinker's Butterflyfish is an expert-level aquarium species due to its specialized deep-reef habitat requirements, dietary demands, and sensitivity to water conditions. Success requires excellent water quality, appropriate food sizes, and a well-established, mature aquarium.
Common health issues
Parasitic infections, marine ich, bacterial infections, starvation if not fed appropriate small foods
Origin and habitat
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, found in deep reef environments at depths of 80-400 feet.
Log Tinker's 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 Tinker's Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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