Pearlscale Butterflyfish

(Chaetodon xanthurus)

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 Pearlscale Butterflyfish is also known as the Crowned Pearlscale or Yellowtail Butterflyfish. Sometimes seen in the aquarium trade. Quite beautifully colored the Pearlscale Butterflyfish are primarily white with gray very thin lines forming a crosshatched pattern. They have a black eye stripe and crown that is trimmed in white. There is a moon shaped orange colored patch running from the back of the dorsal to the anal fin and another running through the tail fin. Pearlscale Butterflyfish can grow to 5".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 70 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