Chelmon rostratus
Copperband butterflyfish
A beautiful fish, the copperband butterflyfish gets its common name from the broad vertical copper-colored stripes on its silvery body. One of these stripes runs through each eye, disguising them from predators. It has a large black spot close to its tail that predators mistake for the eye. When they strike at the black spot thinking it is the copperband's head, the copperband is able to swim away unharmed.
It has an elongated snout and small mouth, specialized for feeding out of holes in rockwork and the reef. It feeds on small crustaceans and worms in its natural habitat. In the home aquarium, specimens should be offered a carnivore-type diet, with meaty foods such as clam meat, mysis shrimp, and other prepared foods designed for carnivores. Some aquarists report success in offering their copperbands a fresh mussel or clam that has been broken open partway to allow the copperband to feed on it.
In captivity, the copperband has a poor survival record. Specimens will often refuse to eat and the majority acclimate poorly to aquarium life. It is nonetheless a very popular fish, both for its beauty and its propensity for feeding on aiptasia. It normally will not bother sps or soft corals, but may not be safe with zooanthids and lps corals. It will also feed on polycheate worms.
It reaches about 8 inches in length, and can be very aggressive to other fish, especially it species.
Copperband butterflyfish
A beautiful fish, the copperband butterflyfish gets its common name from the broad vertical copper-colored stripes on its silvery body. One of these stripes runs through each eye, disguising them from predators. It has a large black spot close to its tail that predators mistake for the eye. When they strike at the black spot thinking it is the copperband's head, the copperband is able to swim away unharmed.
It has an elongated snout and small mouth, specialized for feeding out of holes in rockwork and the reef. It feeds on small crustaceans and worms in its natural habitat. In the home aquarium, specimens should be offered a carnivore-type diet, with meaty foods such as clam meat, mysis shrimp, and other prepared foods designed for carnivores. Some aquarists report success in offering their copperbands a fresh mussel or clam that has been broken open partway to allow the copperband to feed on it.
In captivity, the copperband has a poor survival record. Specimens will often refuse to eat and the majority acclimate poorly to aquarium life. It is nonetheless a very popular fish, both for its beauty and its propensity for feeding on aiptasia. It normally will not bother sps or soft corals, but may not be safe with zooanthids and lps corals. It will also feed on polycheate worms.
It reaches about 8 inches in length, and can be very aggressive to other fish, especially it species.