BFIDFAQs

FAQs on Butterflyfish Identification

A Chaetodon... fasciatus! Not lunula... in the Red Sea.

Butterflyfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBooks on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here
by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Unidentified Butterflyfish - 09/12/08 Hi Ben here, <Hello Ben.> I was wondering if you don't mind identifying the Butterflyfish that I caught earlier this year in Forster, <I guess Forster, NSW (Australia), and not Forster, Michigan.> I can send more photos if you wish. Thanks in advance, Ben. <Although your specimen has lots of similarity with Chaetodon miliaris (Millet Butterflyfish) known only around Hawaii, it lacks the vertical lines of dark scales. Instead it seems to possess faded oblique lines like Chaetodon wiebeli. Therefore, I believe this is a juvenile Hong Kong Butterfly (also named Pocket Butterfly) like this one http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=1&ID=6666&what=species&TotRec=6 which occurs the Western Pacific. It may loose the black dot at the caudal peduncle and develop a second stripe on the mask behind the eye with time. Your find would be one of the southernmost occurrences of this species, if you want, inform the Australian museum http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/index.cfm. Cheers, Marco.>

Unidentified Butterflyfish II - 09/12/08 Ben again, <Hello there.> thanks for your help, the link you gave me showed a juvenile Hong Kong Butterflyfish that is 3.5cm in length and the black dot on the caudal peduncle is nearly gone, my specimen is 6cm in length with a full black dot and it has a yellow crest around the front of the black dot. <The sizes when Butterflyfishes change from juvenile to adult coloration are not carved in stone.> It also had an orange tinge to the dorsal spines, all along the top. I'm not doubting you, <You may, since here we don't have a 100% coincidence with literature, only an obvious similarity. You can ask at the Australian Museum, fish department www.amonline.net.au/fishes/ e.g. Jeff Leis (he has a research project on fishes and in NSW) for a second opinion. > I just want to be sure as to what it is and if you still stand by your suggestion. <So far I do.> Here is another pic. <Thanks! Beautiful specimen.> Oh and yes I'm in Forster, NSW.
<Cheers, Marco.>

Identity of reef fish - Mauritius 11/08/07 On a number of snorkeling outings over shallow reef I spotted a most attractive, deep blue fish. My reference book did not feature it & the Mauritius aquarium could not identify it from my description. They suggested I try your site. From my investigations I take it to be a long-nosed butterfly fish, so I guess that makes it Family Chaetodontidae, genus Forcipiger. The shape is spot on for this, but it's a uniform deep blue colour - really lovely - but nowhere can I find reference to one solid blue in colour. Can you tell me what it is, please? Geoff Bonney. <Mmm... there are but two species of Forcipiger... both mainly yellow... some other longish rostrumed Chaetodontids of other genera... Chelmon, Chelmonops, Prognathodes... none of which have blue young or adults... What we really need is a clear pic of two... BobF, who would gladly join you in diving the Mascarenes.>

Re: Identity of reef fish - Mauritius 11/14/07 Thanks for sending the input from BobF. I would also love to dive the Mascarenes, with him, but unfortunately lack the wherewithal - & am not a qualified diver. I would say the shape was closest to Chelmonops, but that wonderful blue! The occasion on which I saw a little one accompanying the larger, it was less than half the size, but still that same deep colour. I'm beginning to think it's something not previously identified. Now there's an exciting prospect! The exact location, if it helps, was between the Mont Choisy Hotel & Trou-aux-Biches, well to land-ward of the main reef, in coral outcrops in water only about 3 metres deep. Geoff Bonney. <I do wish you had a camera/pix... Don't think this was/is a Chaetodontid, but don't know what. Cheers, BobF>

Wrought Iron Angel - 06/17/07 Hello MR. Fenner I hope that you do not mind the email, please excuse the intrusion. <Please... write to Crew@WetWebMedia.com> was wondering if you had any first hand experience with a wrought iron angel <There is no such animal... you likely mean the Butterflyfish, Chaetodon daedalma...> and a reef tank. Thinking about adding one to my 180g reef system which is SPS and LPSs ( Scolymia, lympho's, symphilia's, Gonioporas) no clams or elegance or torch's etc. do they have a tendency to be unfriendly to my corals? any input would be appreciated, thank you for your time and advice. Stephen, concord, Massachusetts. <Try the correct common and scientific name for a further search. BobF>

Heniochus identification Hi Crew, This one's been on the chat forum for a week with no takers, so I thought I'd see if y'all (southern, non genderized version of 'you guys') could help. I'm 3 months new to the hobby and trying to build toward a reef tank by learning the basics with a few fish that won't have to be gotten rid of as I add more invert's over time. LFS has some nice Bannerfish that they've labeled as 'Heniochus butterflies', which they obviously are. Sixty-four dollar question is are they H. diphreutes or H. acuminatus. My readings have convinced me to avoid acuminatus (Longfin), and likewise that diphreutes (schooling Bannerfish) should be more 'reef-safe'. <Mmm, six of one... Mostly the trade sees H. acuminatus... though diphreutes does come to us via Hawai'i occasionally...> I've read what I can find on differential ID between the two and am aware of the points made by Scott Michael. Unfortunately without both species to compare simultaneously I just can't be sure which species these fish really are. Any suggestions? <Side by side these two are unmistakable... but not having both, hard to discern by description. H. diphreutes really has a "little mouth" is my best discriminating factor... though the banding color differences are noted on WWM> Thanks in advance for your consideration and for all the fantastic support "y'all" provide the hobby. Your website and books have already provided tremendous assistance even in my short time in the hobby. Keep up the great work! Florida Boy <Glad to find we've been of service. Bob Fenner>

Butterflyfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBooks on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here
by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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