Saddle butterflyfish
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- Packed to order with heat or cold packs for the season
- Eating and settled in our systems before it ships
- Questions? Ask a reef keeper
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About this fish
About this fish
Saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) is a butterflyfish for the home saltwater aquarium, prized for its graceful, disc-shaped form and bold patterning. In a tank, it’s typically used as a centerpiece fish where it can swim confidently over live rock and open swimming space. Because many butterflyfish will pick at corals and small invertebrates, the practical way to keep a Saddle butterflyfish is usually as part of a fish-only setup (often with live rock), rather than a coral reef system.
Features:
- Graceful, disc-shaped butterflyfish with striking patterning
- Best showcased in a spacious aquarium with plenty of rock
- Many butterflyfish pick at corals and small invertebrates, making fish-only tanks a common fit
- Accepts a varied diet such as frozen mysis, clam, and quality prepared foods
- Often does best when water quality is stable
- Helps them settle when housed with peaceful tankmates
- When it arrives, acclimate it slowly and allow time to settle in quietly
Specifications:
- Scientific name: Chaetodon ephippium
- Category: Butterflyfish
- Tank type guidance: Often suited to fish-only setups with live rock rather than reef aquariums with corals/invertebrates
- Diet (examples): Frozen mysis, clam, and quality prepared foods
- Size options offered: Small, Medium, Large, XLarge




