Where to buy Blackback Butterflyfish
ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.
- Search Saltwaterfish
Saltwaterfish
Search this retailer
- Search Amazon
Amazon
Search this retailer
- Search Petco
Petco
Search this retailer
About Blackback Butterflyfish
The Blackback Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped fish with a predominantly white to pale yellow body marked by a distinctive black dorsal band running along the back and upper flank. It has a yellow-orange face and pectoral area, with thin black bands crossing the gill covers and eye. The fish displays the characteristic triangular profile and compressed body typical of butterflyfish.
Key facts
- Reef safety
- Not Reef Safe
- Diet
- omnivore
- Feeding Schedule
- 2-3 times daily
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa eastward to the Hawaiian Islands, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef. Found on coral reef environments at depths of 10–50 meters.
- Common Health Issues
- Marine ich, parasitic infections, nutritional deficiencies, coral nipping, loss of appetite in new tank environments
- Min tank size
- 70 gallons
- Care Requirements
- • Minimum 70 gallon tank for a single adult or bonded pair • Maintain temperature range 72–82°F with stable salinity 1.020–1.026 and pH 8.1–8.3 • Feed 2–3 times daily with a varied diet of small crustaceans, copepods, and quality prepared foods designed for butterflyfish • Provide abundant live rock and coral cover for grazing and shelter; this species picks continuously at small organisms and detritus • House with peaceful tank mates; avoid aggressive fish and predatory species; can be kept in bonded pairs • Perform regular water changes (25% monthly) to maintain water quality and reduce parasitic load
- Max Size
- 5.5
- Appearance
- The Blackback Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped fish with a predominantly white to pale yellow body marked by a distinctive black dorsal band running along the back and upper flank. It has a yellow-orange face and pectoral area, with thin black bands crossing the gill covers and eye. The fish displays the characteristic triangular profile and compressed body typical of butterflyfish.
- Difficulty Level
- Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-82°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.026
Looking for a hobbyist seller?
ReefDock's marketplace lets reef-keepers sell fish directly to other reef-keepers with Stripe-secured checkout and live-arrival photo confirmation. Browse current fish listings on ReefDock, or list your own.
Verify the source tank before you buy
ReefDock is the sister app to Reef Trak. Sellers who maintain a Reef Trak tank log can publish source-tank parameters on eligible fish listings — so you can see the conditions a fish was raised in before you buy. Log this fish on Reef Trak.