Beaked Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rostratus)
Chelmon rostratus
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Water Parameters
Quick Stats
- Max Size
- 20 cm
- Min Tank
- 200 L
- Lifespan
- 5-8
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Schooling
- No
- Diet
- Carnivore — Aiptasia, mysis, tubifex, copepods, small worms
- Temperament
- Peaceful toward fish; eats Aiptasia and small worms/tubeworms
About
The Copperband (Beaked) Butterflyfish is a graceful elongated species with distinctive orange-yellow vertical stripes on a white body and a notably extended snout used to pick invertebrates from rock crevices. Well known for its appetite for Aiptasia pest anemones. Feeding can be challenging, requiring patience with varied offerings.
Care Guide
Acclimate to frozen foods slowly — start with live Aiptasia, then transition to mysis, tubifex worms, and copepods. Requires pristine water quality. Sensitive to disease; use a quarantine tank. Provide live rock with nooks for foraging. Not safe with tube worms, feather dusters, or small ornamental shrimp. Feed 2–3 times daily.
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