Klein's Butterflyfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Considered one of the hardiest and most adaptable butterflyfish in the aquarium trade, usually feeding within a day of arrival and accepting flake, pellet, and frozen foods without much fuss. It is peaceful with other fish and can be kept in small groups if all are introduced at the same time. Reef safety is a caution rather than a clean yes: it mostly leaves corals alone but will occasionally nip at soft corals like leathers, especially if it is underfed, so keeping it well fed on a varied diet several times a day goes a long way toward protecting a reef tank's coral.

In the wild

Ranges across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea from East Africa to Hawaii, north to Japan and south to New Caledonia and the Galapagos, mostly on deeper lagoon, channel, and seaward reefs below about 10 m. It forages over coral and rubble for algae and small invertebrates, so the tank should combine open swimming room with live rock for grazing and shelter. A tank of at least 300 litres (79 US gal) suits a single fish.

Good to know

Also called the sunburst butterflyfish for the golden-yellow wash over the rear half of its body, set off by a creamy white front half, a dark band through the eye, and black lips. It reaches about 15 cm and is a generalist feeder, taking algae, small invertebrates, and coral polyps, especially soft corals like Sarcophyton leathers, in the wild rather than specializing on any one food source the way some Chaetodon do.

Did you know

It is one of the few butterflyfish regularly recommended to hobbyists as a first Chaetodon, since most of its relatives are notoriously picky, coral-dependent eaters while this one adapts to ordinary aquarium fare almost as readily as a damselfish.

Related species

• 

  Pearlscale Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon xanthurus

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

• 

  Milletseed Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon miliaris

  5.1 in (13 cm)75 gal (285 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Golden Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon semilarvatus

  9.1 in (23 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Collare Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon collare

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

• 

  Raccoon Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon lunula

  7.9 in (20 cm)106 gal (400 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)