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Tinker's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri)

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

Tinker's Butterflyfish
Photo: cello caruso-turiello · CC BY 4.0
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Where to buy Tinker'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 Tinker's Butterflyfish

Tinker's Butterflyfish is a small, distinctive species with a primarily yellow body and vertical black bands. It features a blue-rimmed eye and characteristic black markings on the head and body, with a white ventral region. The species has the typical compressed, deep-bodied butterflyfish shape.

Key facts

Care Requirements
• Minimum 75 gallon aquarium for long-term health • Water params: 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, sg 1.023–1.025 • Highly specialized feeder; requires frequent small feedings of live/frozen copepods, amphipods, small mysids • Peaceful; keep singly or in established pairs; provide coral rubble for grazing • Strong current and excellent water quality essential for survival
Common Health Issues
Parasitic infections, marine ich, bacterial infections, starvation if not fed appropriate small foods
Min tank size
75 gallons
Diet
omnivore
Feeding Schedule
2-3 times daily
Origin
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, found in deep reef environments at depths of 80-400 feet.
Reef safety
Reef Safe with Caution
Temperament
Peaceful
Care Level
Expert
Difficulty Level
Tinker's Butterflyfish is an expert-level aquarium species due to its specialized deep-reef habitat requirements, dietary demands, and sensitivity to water conditions. Success requires excellent water quality, appropriate food sizes, and a well-established, mature aquarium.
Family
Chaetodontidae
Diet Details
Feed a varied diet including high-quality marine flakes, small frozen foods (mysis shrimp, copepods), and occasional live microfauna. Frequent small feedings are important for this species, which naturally feeds on small crustaceans and zooplankton in the deep reef.

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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