Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) pair

Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Dot Dash
Butterflyfish, Dot-and-dash Butterflyfish, Spotbanded Butterflyfish, Pelewensis Butterflyfish, and erroneously the Punctato Butterflyfish, is found on coral reefs in the South Pacific Ocean.

In the southern Pacific Ocean its range extends from Papua New Guinea to the Tuamotu Archipelago.   It is abundant in the Coral Sea and on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where they can be found as far south as central New South Wales and Lord Howe Island.

Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis)

Sunset Butterflyfish have a mustard yellow to orange body color with black upward oriented diagonal stripes across the rear portion that begin as spots at the head, and a black edged vertical gold bar that passes through the eyes. They have a black spot on the forehead in front of the dorsal fin.   The base of the caudal fin is bright orange, and the margins of the fins are yellow. There are no distinguishable physical differences between males and females.

Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) closely resemble the Punctato Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) which they occasionally hybridize with in the southern part of their range.

Sunset Butterflyfish are a peaceful species that are normally encountered in the clear waters of the lagoons and outer seaward reefs of their range, among rocky areas with abundant coral growth at depths of at least 150 feet, where they feed on coral polyps and a few small benthic invertebrates.   Sunset Butterflyfish are occasionally found swimming as pairs along the outer subtidal reef flats, especially during breeding.

Sunset Butterflyfish are 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.   Because they need areas in the tank with moderate to high water flow, a wave maker or power head is recommended.

Because Sunset Butterflyfish feed largely on coral polyps, soft corals, tubeworms, and most benthic invertebrates; they are not considered reef safe.

Chaetodon pelewensis are a peaceful species that 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 some Dwarf Angelfish.   They may exhibit territorial behavior towards conspecifics or similar looking species, especially when housed in smaller tanks.

Sunset Butterflyfish are oviparous, monogamous, and breed in pairs.   Spawning usually occur at dusk.  After a brief courtship ritual, the pair ascends into the water column to release a white cloud of eggs and sperm.   The small, buoyant eggs hatch out within 24 hours into larvae that drift with the currents until they grow into juveniles.

In the southern part of their range, they will occasionally form mixed pairs and hybridize with the Punctato Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus).

In their natural habitat, Sunset Butterflyfish feed on coral polyps, a variety of small benthic invertebrates, and filamentous algae.   In an aquarium environment they are generally shy, deliberate feeders that that initially require a variety of fresh, frozen, and dried foods to get them eating.

Their diet should include finely chopped seafoods, vitamin enriched brine shrimp, cyclops, krill, Mysis shrimp, high quality marine omnivore flakes or pellets, spirulina, and other seaweed based foods fed 2 or 3 times a day.

Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) are occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts from a variety of online retailers, wholesalers, and transhippers 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 start at around $59.99 and vary according to size and area of collection.

Sunset Butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis)

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOWLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 72°F to 78°F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max size: 4.75″
Color Form: Yellow, Black, Orange
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Not reef compatable
Origin: Southern Pacific, Cook Islands
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate