Description
Also known as Blueblotch Butterflyfish, Blue-blotched Butterflyfish, Bluedash Butterflyfish, Coral Butterflyfish, Coralfish, Grey-blotched Butterflyfish, Two-spot Coralfish.
Found singly or in pairs, over shallow coastal waters, of lagoons and outer reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps from Acropora corals.
Length - 15cm
Depth - 0-10m
Widespread Western Pacific
Butterflyfishes have very fine hair like teeth that enable them to pick out small organisms inaccessible to most other fish for eating.
They thrive mainly on a diet of coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms. As these food sources all zap back into their shells, butterflyfishes need to be able to hover motionless while picking at the coral and to dart swiftly over short distances to get the worm before it retracts. They do this by using their Pectoral fins as oars to brake, sprint, turn and even reverse. (edit)
Ref: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6613
1 comment
Posted by joacimReally interesting information about this specie. Butterfly fish is really beautiful. I do understand why they are such a popular aquarium fish. Pretty hard to maintain, but as you get a hang of it, its really nice!