Brown Banded Butterflyfish

(Roa modesta)

Roa 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. Roa Butterflyfish are considered hardy and will generally adapt well in aquariums. A diet of meaty and algae based foods should be provided multiple times daily. Roa Butterflyfish tend to be shy and peaceful but can become territorial if their aquarium is to small. Roa Butterflyfish use their long noses to explore cracks and crevices for food and may pick at corals, crustaceans, algae and clam mantles if not well fed. A diet of meaty foods including live fortified Brine and mysis shrimp and black or red worms along with herbivore preparations should be provided. If not readily eating try pressing foods into holes or crevices mimicing their natural feeding habits. These Butterflyfish should be housed singly. Most fish in this species are considered to be cool water fish.

Brown Banded Butterflyfish are rarely seen in the aquarium trade. Beautifully colored Brown Banded Butterflyfish are a white silver color with two thick vertical stripes and a black spot near its dorsal fin. Brown Banded Butterflyfish can grow up to 8".

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