Copperband butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
Also known as Beaked Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, Orange Stripe Butterfly
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Origin
- Indo-West Pacific, from the Andaman Sea and Indonesia north to southern Japan and the Great Barrier Reef
Overview
A slow, deliberate, mid-water grazer that is peaceful toward other species but does not tolerate its own kind or similar butterflies, so keep only one. It is notoriously difficult to get feeding, being a shy and picky eater that often needs live blackworms or fresh clam on the half shell to start. Best reserved for experienced keepers with a mature system.
In the wild
Copperbands come from coastal reefs, rocky shorelines, and silty inshore areas across the Indo-West Pacific, often in slightly turbid water near estuaries. They forage over live rock and reef structure, probing crevices with their long snout. In the aquarium they want a mature tank with plenty of established live rock, good water quality, and calm tankmates. They browse constantly and dislike bright open spaces with no cover.
Good to know
Chelmon rostratus is a member of the family Chaetodontidae. Its elongated, forceps-like snout is an adaptation for extracting small invertebrates from narrow crevices and coral heads. Adults reach about 20 cm. It carries a false eyespot (ocellus) on the rear dorsal fin, a common butterflyfish defense that misdirects predators away from the real head.
Did you know
It is prized as a natural control for Aiptasia (glass anemones), and many reefers buy one specifically to clear a pest anemone outbreak, though individuals vary in how reliably they hunt them.
Common questions
What size tank does a Copperband butterflyfish need?
A Copperband butterflyfish needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Copperband butterflyfish need?
A Copperband butterflyfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Copperband butterflyfish get?
An adult Copperband butterflyfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
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