Dot Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus)
The Punctato Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus), known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Dot Dash Butterflyfish, Spotband Butterflyfish, or Spot-band Butterflyfish, are found in the Indo West Pacific Ocean from Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Rowley Shoals and the northern Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and throughout Micronesia.
In the Indian Ocean, Chaetodon punctatofasciatus is “replaced” by its close relative the Peppered Butterflyfish (Chaetodon guttatissimus). Both species occur from Christmas Island to Bali.
Punctato Butterflyfish are a peaceful species that is normally encountered in the clear waters of the lagoons and outer seaward reef flats of their range, among rocky areas with abundant coral growth at depths to 150 feet, where they feed on filamentous algae, coral polyps, and a variety of small benthic invertebrates. Spotband Butterflyfish are occasionally found swimming as pairs along the outer subtidal reef flats, especially during breeding.
Juvenile Punctato Butterflyfish are secretive and are usually found in shallower waters.
Dot Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus)
Punctato Butterflyfish have a pale gray to brownish yellow body color, with seven vertical rows of dark gray to black spots interspersed with yellow and aligned as stripes along the upper portion of the body that morphs into horizontal rows of dark spots on the lower portion. An orange bar edged in black runs across the eye, the dorsal fin has a yellow margin, the caudal peduncle is colored a bright orange, and the rear edge of the caudal fin is transparent. There are no distinguishable physical differences between males and females.
Juveniles Punctato Butterflies exhibit a vibrant coloration with bold black spots and yellowish orange bands on a white to yellowish tan background. Their colors intensify as they mature and the patterns become more pronounced.
In the southern part of their range, Spotband Butterflyfish occasionally hybridize with the Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis).
The Punctato Butterflyfish is best housed in an established FOWLR tank of at least 75 gallon capacity with a fine coralline gravel or sand substrate, plenty of mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to graze on and hide among. They should have areas in the tank with moderate to high water flow.
Because Punctato Butterflyfish eat stony polyps, soft corals, tube worms, ornamental shrimp, anemones, and most invertebrates; they are not considered reef safe.
Chaetodon punctatofasciatus are peaceful and get along well with other non aggressive species like Clownfish (Ocellaris Clownfish), Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto), Firefish (Nemateleotris spp.), Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni), Orchid Dottybacks (Pseudochromis fridmani), and Dwarf Angelfish.
Although the Punctato Butterfly is generally peaceful, they can exhibit territorial behavior towards conspecifics or similar looking species, especially in smaller systems.
Punctato Butterflyfish have been bred by commercial aquaculturists but rearing the larvae is challenging, which is why they have not been bred in a home aquarium environment.
Chaetodon punctatofasciatus are oviparous and monogamous, breeding in pairs. In the southern part of their range, they will occasionally form mixed pairs and hybridize with the Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis).
In their natural habitat, Punctato Butterflyfish feed primarily on coral polyps and a variety of benthic invertebrates. In an aquarium environment, their diet should include a variety of meaty and algae based foods. Mysis and vitamin enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafoods, high quality marine flakes or pellets, spirulina, nori, seaweed, marine algae, and algae based foods are all eagerly accepted and should be fed 2 to 3 times a day.
Punctato Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) are commonly available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from a variety of online retailers, wholesalers, and transshippers at the following approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3-1/2″; Large: 3-1/2″ to 4-1/2″.
Prices for small specimens begin at $69.00 and vary according to size and area of collection.
Dot Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus)
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOWLR
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
Water Conditions: 75°F to 82°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 4.75″
Color Form: Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Not reef compatable
Origin: Indo Pacific
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate
