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Blackburn's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon blackburnii)

Find Blackburn's Butterflyfish across reef-livestock retailers on ReefDock. Compare sources, check known pricing where available, and review care information before you buy.

Blackburn's Butterflyfish
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
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Where to buy Blackburn's Butterflyfish

ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.

  • Saltwaterfish

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  • Amazon

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  • Petco

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About Blackburn's Butterflyfish

Blackburn's Butterflyfish is a striking yellow-bodied fish with distinctive black vertical bars and bright orange-red patches on the head and gill covers. It features a black eyebar characteristic of the genus and attains a maximum length of approximately 7 inches, with the typical laterally compressed body shape common to butterflyfish.

Key facts

Diet Details
In captivity, offer a varied diet including frozen mysis shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood, and quality flake food. Feed 2–3 times daily. This species grazes on small crustaceans and polyps in the wild and can be difficult to transition to prepared foods.
Feeding Schedule
2-3 times daily
Origin
Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef, typically found in reef environments at depths of 5–70 meters.
Max Size
7
Care Level
Hard
Care Requirements
• Minimum 75 gallon tank • Temperature range: 72–78°F • Salinity: 1.023–1.025 SG • Feed a varied diet of high-quality frozen foods (mysis shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood) 2–3 times daily • Provide plenty of live rock and coral for grazing and shelter; difficult to acclimate and prone to starvation if not offered appropriate foods • May nip at stony and soft corals; best suited for experienced aquarists familiar with butterflyfish behavior
Common Health Issues
Starvation (difficulty acclimating to captive foods), parasitic infections, bacterial infections, loss of appetite
Temperament
Peaceful
Min tank size
75 gallons
Aka
Chocolate Butterflyfish
Difficulty Level
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Appearance
Blackburn's Butterflyfish is a striking yellow-bodied fish with distinctive black vertical bars and bright orange-red patches on the head and gill covers. It features a black eyebar characteristic of the genus and attains a maximum length of approximately 7 inches, with the typical laterally compressed body shape common to butterflyfish.

Research before you buy

ReefDock is the sister app to Reef Trak. Use Reef Trak to research and log fish, keep tank parameters organized, and maintain a complete livestock history. Log this fish on Reef Trak.

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