Klein's Butterflyfish

[edit] Overview

Although it may not be the most attractive member of the family, it is one of the most durable chaetodontids and a great choice for beginning or intermediate hobbyists.

[edit] Feeding

Omnivore. Feed a varied diet of meaty and algae-based foods at least three times a day. All butterflyfishes benefit from regular feedings of color-enhancing enriched foods.

[edit] Aquarium Compatibility

Klein’s Butterflyfish swims just over the aquarium bottom when searching for grazing opportunities or into the water column to intercept suspended food.

[edit] Breeding/Propagation

Egg scatterers that produce pelagic eggs, often in midwater mating rituals. Both eggs and larvae that drift with plankton in the water column and settle back onto a reef at about the time of metamorphosis. These are among the most challenging types of marine fishes to propagate in captivity.

[edit] Notes

It is possible to keep a pair of these fish in a larger aquarium. Males will fight—unfortunately, telling the differences between the sexes is difficult. Be prepared to separate individuals if they start quarreling frequently. It rarely bothers unrelated fishes, although it may fight with more aggressive butterflyfishes. Known bullies (large damselfishes, some angelfishes, surgeonfishes, triggerfishes) may pick on this fish. This species is not suitable for the reef aquarium, as it feeds heavily on soft corals in the wild and will happily eat a wide variety of ornamental invertebrates in the aquarium.

Category: Species