Where to buy Blackback Butterflyfish
ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.
- Search Saltwaterfish
Saltwaterfish
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Amazon
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Petco
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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
Research before you buy
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