Very-Long-Nosed Butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Hard care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The Very-Long-Nosed Butterflyfish is instantly recognizable by its extremely elongated snout, which is nearly half the length of its head. The body is yellow-orange overall with distinctive white to pale yellow banding on the flanks, and the characteristic black eye stripe typical of butterflyfish. The dorsal and anal fins are similarly banded.
Diet and feeding
In the wild, this species feeds on small crustaceans, zooplankton, and parasites on coral. In captivity, offer varied small live prey (copepods, amphipods, small mysid shrimp) and high-quality frozen foods like finely chopped mysis or enriched brine shrimp.
Difficulty and care for the Very-Long-Nosed Butterflyfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Parasitic infections (ich, Marine Velvet), starvation from inability to find suitable small prey, stress-related disease
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa east to Hawaii and the Society Islands, typically found on coral reef slopes and outer reef areas at depths of 5–200 meters.
Log Very-Long-Nosed 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 Very-Long-Nosed Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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