Where to buy Mirror Butterflyfish
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About Mirror Butterflyfish
The Mirror Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped species with a distinctive white or pale silver body marked by bold black vertical bands and a characteristic large black spot (ocellus) on its side that resembles a mirror or eye-spot. The dorsal and anal fins are yellow to orange, and the face displays dark markings typical of the genus Chaetodon.
Key facts
- Common Health Issues
- Ich, parasitic infections, nutritional deficiencies, failed feeding transition in captivity
- Min tank size
- 75 gallons
- Care Requirements
- • Minimum 75-gallon tank (reef-safe) • Water: 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, sg 1.020–1.025 • Moderate to strong lighting (LED/T5) • Feed small frequent meals: mysis, copepods, quality flakes • Peaceful but territorial; avoid aggressive fish
- Max Size
- 5.5
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.026
- Feeding Schedule
- 2-3 times daily
- Appearance
- The Mirror Butterflyfish is a small, disc-shaped species with a distinctive white or pale silver body marked by bold black vertical bands and a characteristic large black spot (ocellus) on its side that resembles a mirror or eye-spot. The dorsal and anal fins are yellow to orange, and the face displays dark markings typical of the genus Chaetodon.
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa eastward to the Great Barrier Reef and beyond to Hawaii and the Line Islands. Found on coral reef slopes and drop-offs at depths typically between 20 and 200 meters.
- Difficulty Level
- The Mirror Butterflyfish is a difficult species suited only to experienced aquarists. It has poor feeding transition rates to captive diets, requires excellent water quality and stable conditions, and its natural coral and sponge diet is difficult to replicate in home aquaria. Many specimens starve slowly despite apparent feeding.
- Diet Details
- In captivity, offer a varied diet of quality marine flakes, pellets, small frozen foods (mysis shrimp, copepods, brine shrimp), and occasional live foods. Butterflyfish in this genus are natural coral and sponge feeders, so supplementing with sponge-based preparations or specialized butterflyfish diets improves long-term health and coloration.
- Diet
- omnivore
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