The Copperband butterflyfish, or Chelmon rostratus, is a colorful member of the butterflyfish family. They’re among the more difficult fish to keep, but they are a visually appealing addition to any tank, which makes them popular among many aquarists. This fish has a unique triangular body with white and orange stripes along the body, along with a false black eyespot near the backend of the body.
If you’re curious to know more about this fish and how to care for it, review our care guide below.
Although Copperband butterflyfish aren’t likely to attack your reefs, they may become hostile toward other organisms in your aquarium. For instance, they may go after mollusks, clams, and tube worms. Additionally, they could nip at large fleshy coral polyps. Their behavior varies from tank to tank, but it’s often best to avoid putting these fish in a reef tank.
This species of fish is carnivorous and sticks to eating meat. They have a long nose that is perfect for snatching the meat from clams and other shellfish along with food from between rocks. They feed on all types of food from clams and Mysis shrimp to blackworms.
One of the main reasons these fish are hard to keep is because of the difficulty often experienced when feeding them. When first introduced to a tank, they may be too anxious to feed and refuse to eat. This makes it important to carefully introduce them to a new tank and take steps to reduce stress such as housing them in a quarantine tank.
Keeping more than two Copperband butterflyfish in the same tank is generally a bad idea, but a single pair is more likely to get along.
The Copperband butterflyfish is one of the more difficult fish to keep, much like other types of butterflyfish. This is why this species is best for more advanced aquarists.
Copperband butterflyfish can grow to pretty large sizes, with adults reaching around 8 inches in the wild. However, they’re often smaller when bred in captivity, only growing to around 4 inches.
The price for a Copperband butterflyfish is relatively affordable, depending on where you look, with prices from vendors ranging from around $90 to as much as $400.
Copperband butterflyfish are highly territorial and don’t normally get along with others of the same species or other butterflyfish. So, don’t keep more than two if you can, although a single pair may get along.
Apart from butterflyfish, it’s possible to keep the Copperband butterflyfish with a variety of other tank mates. While you shouldn’t keep these fish with invertebrates that might only serve as food for your butterflyfish, some potential tank mates include:
Just remember that these fish are incredibly territorial, so avoid overcrowding your tank with too many other fish. These fish also tend to grow larger and need their space, including plenty of space to hide.
You’ll find Copperband butterflyfish available from many vendors online, including:
The Copperband butterflyfish may not be the cheapest or easiest to keep, but it can make for a great fish to add to a tank if you’re looking for a colorful specimen.