Collare butterflyfish
Chaetodon collare
Also known as Pakistan Butterflyfish, Redtail Butterflyfish, Collare Coralfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 90 gal
- 340 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Not reef safe
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Origin
- Ranges across the Indian Ocean and into the western Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and Maldives to Indonesia, on coastal and outer reefs.
Overview
Provide a 340 litre or larger tank at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with plenty of rock and swimming room. It is not reef safe and will nip stony and soft corals and sessile invertebrates. Choose a specimen over about 8 cm that is already eating, then feed mysis, enriched brine, chopped clam and mussel, and other meaty foods several times a day. It is mostly peaceful but can be feisty toward other butterflyfish.
In the wild
The collare butterflyfish is a hardy, boldly marked species found in pairs and sometimes large aggregations on reef slopes. It has a dark body with a white collar behind the head and a red tail. It picks at coral polyps and small invertebrates across the reef. It needs open swimming space and rocky crevices for cover.
Good to know
Chaetodon collare is a butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae, also called the Pakistan butterflyfish. It is one of the more robust members of its genus once it is feeding. Its wild diet centers on coral polyps, which is why it does not suit reef tanks.
Did you know
On wild reefs collare butterflyfish sometimes gather in loose groups of dozens, which is unusual for a genus that mostly travels in pairs.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Collare butterflyfish is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackline fang blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Lyretail anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Saltwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Tiger / strawberry conch
Conomurex luhuanus
Saltwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Collare butterflyfish need?
A Collare butterflyfish needs at least 90 gal (340 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Collare butterflyfish need?
A Collare butterflyfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Collare butterflyfish get?
An adult Collare butterflyfish reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
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