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Many-Spined Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys multispinosus)

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

Many-Spined Butterflyfish
Photo: (c) Randall, J.E., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) · cc-by-nc
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Where to buy Many-Spined Butterflyfish

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

  • Saltwaterfish

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    Search Saltwaterfish
  • Amazon

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  • Petco

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About Many-Spined Butterflyfish

A small butterflyfish with a predominantly white body and distinctive multiple dark vertical stripes running along the flanks. The head and anterior body are yellow to orange-yellow, with black markings around the eye and on the gill covers. The dorsal fin displays the characteristic many spines that give the species its name.

Key facts

Difficulty Level
Moderate difficulty. Many-Spined Butterflyfish require stable conditions and can be sensitive to water quality swings. They may nip at stony corals and some soft corals, so careful placement in reef systems is necessary.
Reef safety
Reef Safe with Caution
Diet Details
Feed a varied diet including high-quality flake foods, small pellets, and frequent offerings of frozen zooplankton (mysis shrimp, copepods). Supplement with small amounts of herbivorous material and live rock grazing to promote natural feeding behavior.
Care Level
Moderate
Diet
omnivore
Care Requirements
• Minimum 75-gallon aquarium; 100+ gallons recommended for adults • Stable parameters: 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, sg 1.023–1.025 • High-quality marine diet: quality flakes, pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp • Moderate to strong water flow; excellent filtration and protein skimming • Peaceful reef-safe butterflyfish; avoid aggressive tank mates; may nip at corals
Temperament
Peaceful
Common Health Issues
Marine ich, head and lateral line erosion (HLLE), parasitic infections, loss of appetite in captivity
Origin
Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and extending east to the Hawaiian Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
Feeding Schedule
2-3 times daily
Max Size
5.9
Appearance
A small butterflyfish with a predominantly white body and distinctive multiple dark vertical stripes running along the flanks. The head and anterior body are yellow to orange-yellow, with black markings around the eye and on the gill covers. The dorsal fin displays the characteristic many spines that give the species its name.

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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