Kingdom : Animalia Class : Actinopterygii Family : Chaetodontidae Scientific Name : Chaetodontidae Size(L) : 7cm - 15cm (3in - 6in) Water Type : Salt Optimum pH Level : 8.1 - 8.6 Life Span : 6 - 12 years Colour : Black, White, Yellow, Orange, Silver Skin Type : Scales Distinctive Features : Elongated nose and bright colours
- Butterfly fish are small sized fish found around the coral reefs in tropical and sub-tropical waters.
- They are best known for their brightly colored body and elaborate markings.
- There are around 100 species found across the Atlantic, Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
- Usually, the butterfly fish grow around 4 to 5 inches long, with some species known to grow around 12 inches.
- They are salt water species which live to be around 7 years old in the wild.
- They need very specific water conditions to survive and are therefore not easy to keep.
- In a well-kept aquarium they may live to be around 10 years old.
- They are very closely related to marine Angelfish but are smaller in size.
- Distinctively, they have a pointed mouth, dark spots on their bodies and dark bands around their eyes.
- Small butterfly fish remain in large groups whereas the larger species are quite solitary.
- They are diurnal animals feeding by the day and resting in the night.
- The smaller species feed on plankton whereas the larger species feed on coral, sea anemones and small crustaceans.
- They have their predators in snappers, eels and sharks.
- One of their defense techniques is to hide in coral crevices to escape from their predators.
- Interestingly, they are known to form mating pairs lasting a lifetime.
- The butterfly fish release their eggs in water which get attached to plankton.
- The butterfly fish babies are called fry and have, armored plates for protection, on their bodies.
- Due to pollution and habitat loss, they are an endangered species today.