A Hobbyist's Guide: Successfully Feeding Difficult Butterflyfish
The primary challenge with many butterflyfish is their specialized diet of live coral, which causes them to refuse prepared foods in captivity....
Chaetodon auriga is an omnivore with a notably broad natural menu. Wild fish crop filamentous algae and work over the reef for polychaete worms, coral polyps, anemones, crustaceans, sponges, clams, hydroids, tunicates, and assorted other benthic invertebrates. Replicating that variety is the key to long-term condition in captivity.
Offer both meaty and algae-based items several times daily. Mysis shrimp, fortified brine shrimp, and quality frozen marine preparations cover the animal portion, while Spirulina- and nori-based foods address the grazing side of the diet. Most individuals take prepared foods readily, and juveniles tend to settle in faster than adults. A hesitant newcomer can often be coaxed with clam or mussel presented on the half shell, or with soft food pressed into the crevices of a coral skeleton so the fish can pick at it naturally.
Mysis Shrimp
Fortified Brine Shrimp
Frozen Marine Preparations
Spirulina-Based Foods
Nori
Clam On The Half Shell
Mussel On The Half Shell
In nature this butterflyfish is found alone, in pairs, or in small groups, and feeding fish sometimes gather into loose roaming aggregations. Aquarium specimens are generally peaceful but often shy for the first days or weeks, so ample hiding places and calm, non-aggressive tankmates ease the transition. Crowding invites trouble: in an undersized aquarium the species can turn territorial. Avoid housing it with other Chaetodon species or similarly patterned fish unless the system is genuinely large, and introduce any group of specimens simultaneously rather than adding them one at a time.
This species is not reef-safe. Its natural feeding behavior extends to soft and stony corals, anemones, clams, crabs, and numerous sessile invertebrates, and aquarium specimens frequently pick at corals and crustaceans. It may consume Aiptasia, but that is an incidental benefit rather than a dependable control measure, particularly when preferred foods are on offer. Plan on a fish-only or fish-with-rock display rather than a stocked reef.
This species is not reef-safe. Its natural feeding behavior extends to soft and stony corals, anemones, clams, crabs, and numerous sessile invertebrates, and aquarium specimens frequently pick at corals and crustaceans. It may consume Aiptasia, but that is an incidental benefit rather than a dependable control measure, particularly when preferred foods are on offer. Plan on a fish-only or fish-with-rock display rather than a stocked reef.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Auriga Butterflyfish
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Is the Auriga Butterflyfish safe in a reef aquarium?
No. It is not reef-safe and will pick at corals, anemones, clams, and crustaceans, all of which feature in its natural diet. -
How large an aquarium does an adult require?
Plan on at least 125 gallons for a full-grown specimen. The system should be well established, with extensive rockwork for grazing and shelter plus wide open swimming room. -
Will this butterflyfish eat Aiptasia?
Some individuals consume Aiptasia, but the behavior is inconsistent and cannot be relied upon, especially when preferred foods are readily available.
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From the Top Shelf blog, tagged for Auriga Butterflyfish.
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