Klein's Butterfly Fish
| Common Name | Klein's Butterfly Fish |
|---|---|
| Other Common Names | Kleins Butterfly, Orange Butterflyfish, Brown Butterfly Fish, Black Lip Butterfly, Corallicola |
| Scientific Name | Chaetodon kleini |
| Difficulty Level | Relatively Easy |
| Origion / Range | Indo-Pacific; Indian Ocean |
| Life Span | To 25 Years |
| Size | Average; 5.5 Inches |
| Compatibility | Usually Reef Safe, except with Soft Corals. Requires a 60 gallon aquarium minimum at maturity. |
| Category | Saltwater fish; Butterfly |
| Description | The hardy Klein's Butterfly Fish makes one of the best Butterfly Fish for the beginning marine aquarist. These fish are among the hardiest Butterflies, and can make good community fish. The Klein's Butterflies naturally lives at depths of 45 - 50 feet (13 to 15 meters). The usually peaceful Klein's Butterfly Fish gets along well in community aquariums. If introduced to the environment simultaneously, Klein's Butterflies accept other of the same species. Klein's Butterfly Fish accept a variety of foods (including flake), graze on live rock, and may eat pesty aptasia anemones. Unfortunately, as corals sometimes also fall into their diet, the Klein's Butterfly may not make the best choice for reef environments. At maturity, the Klein's Butterfly reached about five inches (12.5 centimeters) in length. A dark violet shaded bar normally runs through the eye area. and a dark band at the front of the body divides two sections tinted light yellow. The yellow darkens to a more golden tone, dominating the rear of the body. Dark dots decorate the body. |
| Care Info | The Klein's Butterfly requires a 60 gallon aquarium for a single specimen. Water temperature may range between 75 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 - 26 degrees Celsius), pH between 8.3 - 8.4 and specific gravity levels between 1.020 - 1.025 are best. With invertebrates in the tank, a specific gravity above 1.023 is necessary. Klein's Butterflies get along well in a community aquarium but pick at soft corals. A varied diet of crustaceans, bloodworms, and prepared foods, such as flake or frozen preparations, supplemented by algae to graze upon, meets the Klein's Butterly's nutritional requirement. Well established tanks make the best home for the Klein's Butterfly Fish. |
| Breeding / Propagation | The Klein's Butterly is considered difficult to breed in captivity. |
