Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis)
Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Seychelles Butterflyfish, Madagascar Pearlscale Butterfly Fish, or Indian Ocean Chevron Butterflyfish is found in the Indian Ocean from eastern Africa, to as far south as Port Elizabeth in South Africa; east to the Australian territories of Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands, and north to Sri Lanka.
Madagascar Butterflyfish are a shy species that are mostly found alone and in pairs over the coral rich seaward reefs of their range at depths from 30, to over 390 feet.
Off the coast of mainland Tanzania, lone Seychelles Butterflyfish are frequently observed by divers swimming over the tops corals in areas with lush growths, at depths from 60 to 120 feet feeding on stony and soft coral polyps, phytoplankton, filamentous algae, polychaeta worms, other cnidarians, and a variety of benthic invertebrates.
Madagascar Butterflyfish are a shy species that are difficult to approach at any depth. When they encounter a diver, they will usually swim off into thick growths of branched corals for shelter and protection.
Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis)
Adult Madagascar Butterflyfish have a silvery white head and pale grey white body color, with 5 to 7 dark grey chevron lines along the sides that are partly broken into spots, a broad copper orange to reddish orange band across the rear of the body, a black vertical bar, outlined with white through the eye, and a white edged black spot on the forehead. There is a pronounced thin black line on the rear portion of the dorsal and anal fins bordered by a thicker white line, and the tail is copper red to orange with a white band behind the caudal peduncle and the outer edge of the tail.
The poster section of the body, and the rear dorsal and anal fins of juvenile Seychelles Butterflyfish is colored yellow, instead of the reddish orange color that distinguishes adults.
Although Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis), Mertensii Butterflyfish (Chaetodon mertensii), and Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus) are often misidentified; both Chaetodon madagaskariensis and Chaetodon mertensii, which many believe to be the same species, have larger orange to reddish orange areas at their posteriors than Chaetodon xanthurus, which is narrower and more crescent shaped.
Madagascar Butterflyfish are not reef safe and should be kept in a mature FOWLR tank of at least 100 gallon capacity with a fine crushed coral or sand substrate, large amounts of mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to graze on and hide among, and plenty of free swimming space. They thrive in mature aquariums where the fish can forage on micro and macroalgae growths on the live rock.
This species requires scrupulous attention to water quality and requires a good filtration system, efficient protein skimming, a wave maker or power head for water movement, and regular water changes to maintain their well being.
Because Madagascar Butterflyfish inhabit the mature reef ecosystems of stony reef building corals that they feed on, they are NOT REEF SAFE in any aquarium with live corals.
Seychelles Butterflyfish are a peaceful species that can be territorial toward conspecifics and Butterfly Fishes of similar appearance. They can be housed with butterfly fishes of dissimilar appearance in large tanks, especially when introduced at the same time.
Madagascar Butterflyfish do best with other peaceful species from other Families of the same or smaller size.
Madagascar Butterflyfish have not been successfully bred in an aquarium environment.
In their natural habitat, Chaetodon madagaskariensis are open water spawners that do not form monogamous pairs. They apparently only form into pairs when actual breeding is taking place. Spawning is initiated when the female ripens with eggs. The female scatters her eggs into the water column where the male fertilizes them. The small, spherical eggs that have a drop of oil in them which makes them buoyant, hatch in 28 to 30 hours. The larvae, called thoilchyths, have a bony plate over the head and are pelagic for quite a while before developing into juveniles. Replicating this phase of their development is why breeding Madagascar Butterflyfish in an aquarium environment is extremely difficult.
In the wild, Madagascar Butterflyfish feed on coral polyps, phytoplankton, polychaete worms, various invertebrates, and filamentous algae.
In an aquarium environment, they can be picky eaters that should initially be fed a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp or live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) until they begin to eat regularly.
Once they are eating regularly, they can be fed a varied diet of fresh or frozen meaty foods such as Mysis Shrimp, Cyclop-eeze, Zooplankton, chopped krill, clams, mussels, Angelfish preparations, sponge based marine preparations, flake foods containing Spirulina or Nori, and high quality marine omnivore pellets. Offer small portions several times daily.
Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis) are occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from a variety of online suppliers and specialty fish shops at prices that vary according to size, area of collection, and correct identification of the species.
Approximate purchase sizes for Chaetodon madagaskariensis: Small: < 2.25″ to Large: 3.5″ – 4.75″
Currently waiting list prices for Seychelles specimens start at around $90.99 for small specimens, to $168.99 or more for large specimens.
Madagascar Butterflyfish (Chaetodon madagaskariensis)
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Hardy
Water Conditions: 77°F – 81°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.5, sg 1.020-1.026
Max size: 6″
Color Form: White, Black, Red, Orange
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Not Reef Safe
Origin: Indo Pacific
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: Over 7 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
