Golden Butterflyfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Give this fish a 570 litre or larger aquarium with plenty of rockwork and open water, kept at 24 to 28 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4. It is not reef safe and will nip soft corals, stony polyps, tube worms, and anemones. Feed a varied diet of mysis, enriched brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and algae based foods two or three times a day. It is peaceful with other species but can quarrel with other butterflyfish in tight quarters.

In the wild

The golden butterflyfish forms pairs and small groups that hover under table corals and overhangs during the day. It grazes on coral polyps, small invertebrates, and algae across shallow reef slopes. This is a large, deep bodied butterflyfish that needs a lot of open swimming room. It does best in a mature system with stable water and calm tankmates.

Good to know

Chaetodon semilarvatus is a member of the butterflyfish family Chaetodontidae and is restricted to the Red Sea region. The blue mask over its eyes gives it the alternate name bluecheek butterflyfish. It is one of the more coral tolerant large butterflyfish but still samples soft corals and polyps.

Did you know

Golden butterflyfish are often seen resting in pairs or trios beneath the same coral head, and a bonded pair will stay together for years.

Related species

• 

  Klein's Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon kleinii

  5.9 in (15 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Threadfin Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon auriga

  9.1 in (23 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Pearlscale Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon xanthurus

  5.5 in (14 cm)75 gal (285 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Milletseed Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon miliaris

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• 

  Raccoon Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon lunula

  7.9 in (20 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Collare Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon collare

  7.1 in (18 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)