Related FAQs: Chaetodon Butterflyfishes, FAQs 2, Chaetodon Identification, Chaetodon Behavior, Chaetodon Compatibility, Chaetodon Selection, Chaetodon Systems, Chaetodon Feeding, Chaetodon Disease, Chaetodon Reproduction, Threadfins (C. auriga), Raccoons (C. lunula & C. fasciatus),  Double Saddleback (C. ulietensis), Butterflyfish Identification, Butterflyfish Foods/Feeding/Nutrition,  Butterflyfish Compatibility, Butterflyfish Behavior, Butterflyfish Systems, Butterflyfish Selection, Butterflyfish Disease, Butterflyfish Reproduction,

Related Articles: Best/Worst Butterflyfishes

Good Butterflyfishes of the Genus Chaetodon, part III

To: Good Chaetodons part I, part II, Medium, Poor & Unknown

Bob Fenner

  Chaetodon

Chaetodon paucifasciatus Ahl 1923, the Red Sea Chevron, Red-Back or Crown Butterflyfish. One of my favorite fish species from my favorite diving area, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. An omnivore that will eat coral polyps if hungry. Expensive in the west, but worth every cent. Wild and aquarium photos by RMF.

Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Cuvier 1831, the Spot-Banded Butterflyfish, though often (mis)sold under the common moniker as the ill-fated Dot-Dash (see bad Chaetodons), C. pelewensis. Similar in distribution (western Pacific) and size (five inches or so). Eats most foods... including coral polyps in reef tanks. One in captivity, and a juvenile and adult Sulawesi. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Country/CountrySpeciesSummary.cfm?Country=Indonesia&Genus=Chaetodon&Species=punctatofasciatus

Chaetodon sedentarius Poey 1860, the Atlantic Reef Butterflyfish. Caribbean to coast of Brazil. Omnivore that readily adapts to aquarium conditions when started healthy.  To six inches total length. One off of Boynton Beach, FLA.

Chaetodon semilarvatus Cuvier 1831, the Golden or Blue-Mask Butterflyfish. Only found in the Red Sea south into the Gulf of Aden. To plate-size, nine inches or so. Omnivore that does eat coral polyps, soft and hard species. Red Sea pix by RMF. 

Chaetodon (Roaops) tinkeri Schultz 1951, Tinker's Butterflyfish. Mainly found and collected in deep water in Hawaii, but also found in Johnston Atoll, the Marshalls... A hardy species where caught, acclimated properly to captive conditions. Aquarium and wild photo.

Chaetodon ulietensis Cuvier 1831, the Pacific Double Saddleback Butterflyfish. A Pacific version of the Falcula or Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula) of the Indian Ocean. Omnivorous eating habits, chowing down on many types of invertebrates and algae.. To about six inches in length. Aquarium adult pic. Click on name for more.