Tahitian Butterflyfish

Tahitian Butterflyfish

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chaetodon trichrous

Overview
Reef Compatible: WITH CAUTION
Diet: Omnivore
Temperament: Docile
Origin: Central Pacific

The Tahitian Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trichrous) is a beautiful and peaceful saltwater fish native to the Indo-Pacific region. Here are some key details about them:

• Appearance: They have vibrant yellow bodies, a black bar across their eyes, and black spots on their dorsal fin. The front half of their body is gray, while the back half is dark brown to black. The caudal (tail) fin is gray with a yellow base.
• Size: They can grow up to around 7 inches (18 cm) in length.
• Diet: In the wild, they feed on algae, small crustaceans, and invertebrates. In an aquarium, you can feed them frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and chopped seafood.
• Breeding: Breeding them in captivity is rare. In the wild, they form pairs during the summer months, with the female releasing eggs that the male fertilizes and guards.
• Behavior: Peaceful and can be kept with other calm fish species in a community aquarium. Provide hiding places and space to prevent territorial behavior.

If you’re considering keeping one, they’re a good choice for aquarists with limited experience.