Tag Archive | "Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)"

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

The Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Ghana Butterflyfish, Robustus Butterfly, or South African Butterflyfish is found on the southern tropical west coasts of Africa and ranges from Mauritania to the Gulf of Guinea.

Chaetodon robustus are a rare, elusive species that are normally encountered singly or in pairs over the inshore rocky reefs of their range at depths from 100 to over 230 feet, where they feed on crabs, crustaceans, worms, hydroids, and algae.

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish have a silvery white body with three vertical dark brown bands; one through the eyes, the second at mid body, and the third along the rear portion of the body. Their scales are narrowly edged in yellow which gives them a copper like hue. The caudal fin is clear with tints of brown and the dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins are mostly yellow.

Juvenile Robustus Butterflyfish have more vibrant colors, with bold black bands contrasting against a yellow background. As they mature, the intensity of the colors are usually diminished, leading to a more subdued appearance.

The Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus) is sometimes confused in name with the extremely rare Three Band Butterflyfish (Chaetodon tricinctus) found in the Tasman Sea.

The Three Band Butterflyfish is best housed in a mature FOWLR aquarium of at least 125 gallon capacity with a crushed coralline gravel substrate, plenty of live rock having some micro and macroalgae growths, arranged into crevices, caves, and overhangs for them to graze and hide among, and a large area for free swimming.

Because cooler water temperatures are required to house this species, an aquarium chiller may be needed along with a good filtration system and skimmer to keep this species healthy.  They also require moderate to strong currents in at least a portion of their tank, which is why a wave maker or powerhead is recommended.

Chaetodon robustus are generally peaceful, but may harass similar looking fish. They enjoy swimming and do best in large, long, roomy tanks as pairs or with other peaceful reef species.

Because they nibble on corals, small invertebrates and crustaceans, Three Band Butterflyfish are not considered reef safe.

The Three Banded Butterflyfish has not been bred in an aquarium environment. They are broadcast spawners that form pairs during breeding.   After a brief mating ritual, the female releases her pelagic eggs into the water column at the same time the male releases his sperm to fertilize them. The buoyant fertilized eggs hatch into tiny larvae that float along the surface as plankton until they grow large enough to settle on the bottom and eventually become juveniles.

In their natural habitat, Three Banded Butterflyfish feed on a diverse range of hydroids, coral species, crabs, crustaceans, worms, and algae.   In an aquarium environment a well balanced variety of omnivore flake food, Spirulina, nori seaweed, fresh and frozen meaty seafoods that include Mysis shrimp, live fortified brine shrimp, chopped clam, black worms, and chopped shrimp should be offered several times daily.

Due to their limited collection area along the southern coasts of Africa, Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus) are a rare and elusive species in the aquarium trade. They are occasionally available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts online from select suppliers and specialty fish shops from waiting lists at prices that vary according to size and area of collection.

Approximate purchase sizes: 2.25” – 3.25” $ 99.99 to $234.99; 3.5 – 4.75″ $288.99; over 4.75″ $426.99.

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

Three Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Aquarium Type: FOWLR
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 71-80° F, dKH 8 – 12°, pH 8.1 – 8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max size: 8″
Color Form: Black, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: Not Reef Safe
Origin: Mauritania to the Gulf of Guinea, Africa
Family: Chaetodontidae
Lifespan: 10 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Posted in Butterfly Fishes, Featured Articles, Saltwater, Tropical Fish Keeping, Tropical Fish SpeciesComments (1)


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