Tag Archive | "Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)"

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) pair

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Raffle’s Butterflyfish is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Andaman Sea to the western Pacific and ranges from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and from Palau (Belau) to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia.

Latticed Butterflyfish are usually encountered in pairs around areas of rich coral growth in the lagoons, reef flats, and seaward reefs of their range at depths from 3 to 65 feet or more where they feed on octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps, zoanthids, polychaetes, and sea anemones.

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

The Latticed Butterflyfish has a yellow body color with dark margins on the scales that give it a lattice like appearance, a vertical black band that intersects the eye, and a blue patch on the forehead. A dark vertical black band runs through the center of the dorsal fin and sub marginally on the dorsal and ventral fins.

Juveniles have a dark spot on the lower rear portion of the dorsal fin.  There are no external

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

differences between males and females.

When asleep or stressed, the Latticed Butterflyfish develops a dark spot on the front of the body.

Latticed Butterflyfish are a peaceful species that can be housed in a mature FOWLR aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a sand or coralline gravel substrate, plenty of aged live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to hide among, and sufficient free swimming space.   Because they prey on the polyps of hard and soft corals and anemones, they are not considered to be reef safe and should only be housed in FOWLR aquariums with other peaceful species.

Because they usually become territorial and aggressive; Latticed Butterflyfish should not be housed with other species of butterflyfish or other aggressive species.

They can be kept in pairs with other peaceful species in large tanks.

Like most other butterflyfish species, Chaetodon rafflesi are sensitive to variations in water quality and require a good protein skimmer, filtration system, and a wave maker or powerhead to provide moderate water movement in at least one area of the tank.

Raffle’s Butterflyfish have rarely been successfully bred in an aquarium environment.

Chaetodon rafflesii are pelagic spawners that during the breeding season, form monogamous pairs to mate.   The female releases small, buoyant eggs into the water column where the male immediately fertilizes them. The eggs become part of the plankton chain and eventually hatch out into small tholichthys larvae that in time become juveniles. Raising the larvae in an aquarium environment is complex and not commonly done by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts.

In their natural habitat, Latticed Butterflyfish feed primarily on coral polyps and small invertebrates.   In an aquarium environment, they should be fed a varied diet that includes frozen or live brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, krill, and chopped seafoods.   Feeding them small amounts several times a day instead of one large feeding is recommended.

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) are not common in the aquarium trade.   They are occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts online from select suppliers and specialty fish shops at prices that vary according to size and area of collection.

Approximate purchase sizes: Small: 1″ to 2-1/4″; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3 1/2″; Large: 3-1/2″ to 4-1/2″. Prices for small Indonesian specimens begin at around $40.00.

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 75-81° F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 6″
Color Form: Black, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Not Reef Safe
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, French Polynesia
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: 7 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Posted in Butterfly Fishes, Featured Articles, Saltwater, Tropical Fish Keeping, Tropical Fish SpeciesComments (0)


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