Meyer’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri)
Meyer’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Scrawled Butterflyfish or Maypole Butterflyfish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish are found along the eastern coast of Africa from Somalia to Durban, and across the Indian and Pacific Oceans as far east as the Line Islands and Hawaii. Their range extends north to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and Tonga. Specimens have also been recorded around Micronesia, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, and the Revillagigedo Islands of Mexico in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish are obligate corrallivores that are mostly encountered in pairs in the clear lagoons and seaward reefs of their range among rich growths of Acropora corals at depths between 6 to over 80 feet. The shy and more solitary juvenile Meyer’s Butterflyfish can normally be found sheltering among branching Acropora corals in shallower depths.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish are closely related to the Mailed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus) and the Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus).
Meyer’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri)
Meyer’s Butterflyfish have a bluish white to off white body color with black diagonal bars along the flanks that curve towards the rear and yellow edged black bars that run through the eye, on the snout, and around the mouth. The pectoral fins are yellow, and the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are edged in yellow and black.
Maypole Butterflyfish CAN be housed in an aged FOWLR aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a sand or fine coralline substrate, plenty of mature live rock arranged into caves, crevices, and overhangs for them to hide among and a lot of free swimming space.
However, because live corals are essential to the survival of this species, they are BEST housed in a large reef tank heavily populated with Acropora corals. Obviously, extensive destruction of corals can be expected if a substitute food source is not accepted.
Because they are shy, peaceful, and territorial in their natural habitat; Scrawled Butterflyfish are best housed singly or as pairs. They will stake out a large territory in the tank and usually become aggressive towards members of their own species as well as other tankmates for food.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish have not been bred in an aquarium environment. They are oviparous and breed in pairs.
In their natural habitat, Chaetodon meyeri feed exclusively on Acropora coral mucus and the polyps, which makes them extremely difficult to acclimate into an aquarium environment. Adults are usually reluctant to accept substitutes for stony corals however juveniles may accept vitamin enriched live brine shrimp, clams, or mashed up shrimp and squid pushed into a bleached stony coral skeleton.
After they begin feeding they will usually eat a varied diet of Mysis shrimp, crustacean flesh, and frozen carnivore preparations. Feeding 3 or more times a day is recommended.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri) are available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from a variety of online retailers, wholesalers, and transhippers at the following approximate purchase sizes from the Indian Ocean: Small: 1″ to 1.5″ $89.99; Medium: over 1.5″ to 3.5″ $99.99; Large: over 3.5″to 5.5″ $109.99.
Prices vary widely according to size and area of collection.
Meyer’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri)
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOWLR
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Hardy
Water Conditions: 75°F to 82°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 7.9″
Color Form: White, Black, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Compatibility: Not reef compatible
Origin: Indo Pacific
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Experienced
