Pearlscale Butterflyfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep it in a 285 litre or larger tank at 23 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4 with strong filtration and good oxygen. It is not reef safe and will nip soft corals, stony polyps, ornamental shrimp, and tube worms. Feed a varied diet of mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and other frozen preparations. It is timid, so keep it with peaceful tankmates that will not bully it away from food.

In the wild

The pearlscale butterflyfish has a crosshatched, pearl like body pattern with an orange bar across the tail. It is a shy, deliberate fish that keeps close to rock and coral cover. It picks small invertebrates and polyps from the reef. It needs a calm tank with places to retreat.

Good to know

Chaetodon xanthurus is a western Pacific butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae. The fine dark edging on each scale creates the netted look that gives the fish its name. It is closely related to and often confused with the similar Chaetodon mertensii.

Did you know

Its intricate scale pattern is a form of disruptive camouflage that breaks up the fish's outline against a busy reef background.

Related species

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  Klein's Butterflyfish

  Chaetodon kleinii

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