Copperbanded Butterfly fish

General
This is one of the most troublesome groups of fish for captive care. The problem is that there are many species of butterfly fish that will not live in captivity at all and there are some that do just fine if given the proper environment.   Before buying any butterfly fish do some research and study there needs.  No butterfly fish is easy to keep.  Bob Fenner’s "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is a great tool for sorting through the choices of butterfly fish available.   Butterfly fish are a beautiful and graceful fish when they are cared for properly.

Feeding/Diet
All butterfly fish eat a diet rich in meaty foods. Some butterfly fish are obligate coral eaters. These ones always die in captivity. Even the "good" butterfly fish are finicky eaters. Offer them live brine shrimp at first to make sure they will eat something. A variety of frozen foods should then be offered, including bloodworms, mysis shrimp, plankton, krill, clam, Formula One, Formula Two, Angel Formula, and Trigger Formula.

Compatibility
It is best to house butterfly fish with fish that are not too aggressive. They are finicky eaters that cannot afford to be chased away from their food by their tank mates.

Habitat
These fish are more sensitive than most to water quality. They will be the first to show signs of stress if your water quality gets bad. Strong filtration, including a protein skimmer, is necessary. A good amount of live rock in your tank will allow your butterfly fish to forage on their own between feedings, as well as, provide hiding places. A 75-gallon tank should be considered the minimum size appropriate home.

Best Avoided
There are far too many to try to list here. Again, we recommend Bob Fenner’s "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" to sort out the good versus the bad specimens.