Marginalis Butterflyfish

(Chelmon marginalis)

Chelmon Butterflyfish should be added to large well established aquariums with plenty of room to swim. Plenty of rock work should be provided for grazing and hiding. Chelmon Butterflyfish use their long noses to explore cracks and crevices for food and may pick at soft corals, tube worms, crustaceans and clam mantles if not well fed. This genus of Butterflyfish are also known to readily destroy Aiptasia anemone colonies. However, if other preferred foods are available may ignore the pests. A diet of meaty foods including live fortified Brine and mysis shrimp and black or red worms should be provided. If not readily eating try pressing foods into holes or crevices mimicing their natural feeding habits. Chelmon Butterflyfish are generally considered peaceful however, should be kept singly or a male/female pair and will battle over their territory with others of the same genus.

The Marginalis Butterflyfish is also known as the Margined, Three-stripe Butterflyfish or Margined Coralfish. Rarely seen in the aquarium trade. The Marginalis Butterflyfish resembles the Copperband Butterfly without the mid body stripe. They have a white body color two orange to yellow vertical stripes trimmed in black. Marginalis Butterflyfish can grow to 7".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 75 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