TankBud

Threadfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon auriga

Also known as Auriga Butterflyfish, Cross-stripe Butterfly

SaltwaterFish

Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
Bernard E. Picton BernardP · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.1 in
23 cm
Minimum tank
124 gal
470 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Not reef safe
Family
Chaetodontidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan

Overview

The threadfin butterflyfish is one of the hardier, easier-to-feed butterflyfish, which makes it a common choice. It is best with a little experience and a tank without corals.

Did you know

The threadfin butterflyfish is often recommended as a first butterflyfish for fish-only systems, because it eats a broad range of foods and adapts well. Most of its coral-obligate relatives starve in captivity.

Caring for the threadfin butterflyfish

Give the threadfin butterflyfish a large tank of at least 124 gal (470 L). Add live rock for it to graze on and leave plenty of open swimming room. It is not reef safe, since it samples corals and invertebrates.

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is a committed omnivore and readily accepts frozen and prepared foods once settled.

The threadfin butterflyfish is mostly peaceful toward other fish but can squabble with other butterflies, so keep one per tank. Otherwise it is safe in a community tank.

Good to know

The threadfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, is one of the most widespread butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae. Its common name refers to the trailing filament, or thread, that extends from the rear of the dorsal fin in most populations. It also bears a black eyespot on the dorsal fin. It is one of the larger Chaetodon species.

In the wild

Threadfin butterflyfish range widely across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and north to southern Japan. They live on coral-rich reefs, lagoons and reef flats, from the shallows down to about 35 meters. They are generalist foragers that pick at coral polyps, worms, algae and small invertebrates.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The threadfin butterflyfish is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a threadfin butterflyfish need?

A threadfin butterflyfish needs at least 124 gal (470 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a threadfin butterflyfish need?

A threadfin butterflyfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a threadfin butterflyfish eat?

A threadfin butterflyfish is a committed omnivore. It readily accepts frozen and prepared foods once it has settled in.

How big does a threadfin butterflyfish get?

An adult threadfin butterflyfish reaches about 9.1 in (23 cm).

Related species