Japanese Butterflyfish

(Chaetodon nippon)

Chaetodon Butterflyfish should be added to well established aquariums with plenty of room to swim. Plenty of rock work should be provided for grazing and hiding. Chaetodon Butterflyfish may pick at corals and crustaceans. A diet of meaty and algae based foods should be provided multiple times daily. Multiples can be added simutaneously to a large aquarium. Chaetodon Butterflyfish tend to be shy and peaceful but can become territorial if their aquarium is to small.

The Japanese Butterflyfish is rarely seen in the aquarium trade. This colorful Butterflyfish has a white to yellow body color, a thick vertical black stripe on the back portion of its body, gray face and a dark stripe on its head to reaches from eye to eye this will begin to fade as the fish matures. Japanese Butterflyfish can grow to 6".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 100 gallons or larger for this species.

Water conditions: Salinity 1.020 - 1.025, Temp (F) 72 - 78, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Alkalinity 8 - 12 dKH

  • Care: CareModerateModerate
  • Behavior: BehaviorSocialSocial
  • Diet: DietLive FoodLive Food DietFrozen FoodFrozen Food
  • Habitat: HabitatReefReef
  • Light: LightMediumMedium