Copperband Butterfly

About this fish

Copperband Butterfly is a popular marine fish sold under the name Chelmon rostratus. In an aquarium, it’s often chosen for its elegant shape and active foraging behavior, and it can help you keep up with a feeding routine designed for small, meat-based diets. This listing is useful for reef-style aquascapes where you want a generally reef-compatible but fish-careful centerpiece that will require consistent feeding attention.

Features:

• Scientific name: Chelmon rostratus (Copperband Butterfly) for clearer identity when stocking
• Typically an active, alert fish that spends time picking through live rock and open sand for food
• Usually best kept with established, stable marine systems due to its feeding needs
• Reef compatible in many setups, but it may investigate small invertebrates while it learns what to eat
• Often responds well when offered a variety of appropriate meaty foods (small crustaceans/worm-type foods and quality prepared diets) rather than relying on a single item

Specifications:

• Care level (general guidance): Moderate
• Temperament (general guidance): Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive; may show curiosity during feeding
• Environment: Marine (reef-style) aquarium
• Temperature (general guidance): ~24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
• pH (general guidance): ~8.1–8.4
• Salinity (general guidance): ~1.020–1.025 specific gravity
• Adult size (general guidance): About 15–20 cm (6–8 in)
• Diet (general guidance): Carnivorous; small meaty foods and marine-prepared diets sized appropriately for its picking/feeding