Milletseed Butterflyfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep it in a 285 litre or larger tank at 22 to 26 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4, since it comes from slightly cooler Hawaiian reefs. It is reef safe with caution, as it feeds mainly on plankton but may sample polyps and feather dusters. It is one of the easier butterflyfish to feed and takes mysis, enriched brine, and eventually flake and pellet. It is peaceful and can be kept singly or in a small group.

In the wild

The milletseed butterflyfish is a lemon yellow fish marked with rows of small dark spots like scattered seeds. It is the most common butterflyfish in Hawaii and often gathers in large feeding groups. It feeds heavily on zooplankton in open water, unlike the coral picking habits of many relatives. It ranges from shallow reefs down to deep drop offs.

Good to know

Chaetodon miliaris is a butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae found almost only in Hawaiian waters. Its planktivorous habit makes it hardier and easier to feed than most butterflyfish. It has even been recorded cleaning parasites from other fish and picking eggs from nests.

Did you know

It is one of the best beginner butterflyfish because it schools, feeds readily, and adapts to aquarium food faster than its coral eating cousins.

Related species

• 

  Pearlscale Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon xanthurus

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

• 

  Klein's Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon kleinii

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