White-Face Butterflyfish (Chaetodon mesoleucos)
Fish in the family Chaetodontidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
The White-Face Butterflyfish has a distinctive white or pale head and face, with the body transitioning to yellow and black vertical bands posteriorly. The dorsal fin typically shows yellow coloration, and the body is laterally compressed with a small mouth adapted for picking food from reef crevices.
Diet and feeding
Feed a varied diet including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, small crustaceans, and occasionally prepared foods. In the wild they forage on small benthic invertebrates and zooplankton, so quality frozen foods and live offerings are ideal in captivity.
Difficulty and care for the White-Face Butterflyfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Ich, Marine velvet, Loss of appetite, Parasitic infections
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, found from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indo-Pacific to Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef.
Log White-Face 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 White-Face Butterflyfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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