Copperband Butterflyfish
(Chelmon rostratus)
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Copperband Butterflyfish
(Chelmon rostratus)
Additional locales and sizes may be available!
Additional locales and sizes may be available! Email me when available
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Quick Stats
Care Level
Difficult
Temperament
Peaceful
Color Form
Orange, White, Yellow
Diet
Carnivore
Reef Compatible
With Caution
Water Conditions
sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size
8"
Family
Chaetodontidae
Minimum Tank Size
125 gallons
Compatibility
View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level
Difficult
Temperament
Peaceful
Color Form
Orange, White, Yellow
Diet
Carnivore
Reef Compatible
With Caution
Water Conditions
sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size
8"
Family
Chaetodontidae
Minimum Tank Size
125 gallons
Compatibility
View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Overview
The Copperband Butterflyfish, also known as the Beaked Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, or Orange Stripe Butterfly, has a long, narrow nose and mouth used for hunting into crevices and holes for food. The Copperband Butterflyfish has yellow-orange vertical bands with a black edging. It has a false eyespot on the rear of the dorsal fin. This is a difficult fish to mistake for any other.
It is best housed in very large reefs, or in peaceful community tanks. It should be kept singly, not with conspecifics or similar butterflyfish, and should not be kept with any stress-inducing fish. Caution should be exercised if housing these fish in a reef aquarium. They may pick on invertebrates, especially anemones and feather dusters. They are an excellent fish when used to control aiptasia, or glass anemones, in the reef aquarium.
The Copperband Butterflyfish is a difficult fish to feed; it is a shy and deliberate feeder that may need a variety of foods offered to it in order to start feeding.
Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2-1/2"; Medium: 2-1/2" to 4-1/4"; Large: 4-1/4" to 5"; Extra Large: 5" to 6-1/2"
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Customer Testimonials
Aaron M
Oak Harbor , OH
This species is easy to keep if you have certain organisms present in your system. First, they love Feather Dusters. Purchase some Live Rock and build it in a way that small Feather Dusters always have a place to safely grow and breed. Secondly (and most important), I have seen mine eat many an Amphipod! So order some and get them breeding. This is easy if you utilize hang-on filters. Buy Amphipods and release them into the filter with a filter pad. You will get much better results if you give the Amphipods lots of surface area. Fill the unit with pads or sacks of filter medium. They eat what the filter catches and their babies feed your Copperband Butterflyfish!
Eddie G
Mount Dora , FL
These fish are excellent aiptasia eaters. Unfortunately, they are also quite finicky. Be sure you've got plenty of food alternatives once the aiptasia are gone!
B F
Phoenix , AZ
I was very apprehensive about buying this fish for it was supposed to be a hard to feed (bought it for my wife). I was wrong! Started eating the second day. Loves bloodworms (eats flake too). Very peaceful and gets along great with the tank mates (clowns, tangs & the flame angel). Always the first to reach the feeding hole to pull down frozen treats.
Another great specimen from this web site & I am happy to have this fish in my aquarium.
Denise McL
South China , ME
This is my first Butterflyfish and she is so much prettier in person. She is always looking for food. I agree about getting her live amphipod, etc... She naturally looks for them to eat. She does eat brine shrimp. I haven't seen her eat flakes. She is a very peaceful fish and needs to be around peaceful tank mates. I'm happy I bought her along with the rest of the reviewers.
Carolyn C
Acworth , GA
I was very hesitant purchasing this species online but was pleasantly suprised. My Copperband arrived a few weeks ago, healthy and active. He has been eating everything I toss in the tank (a mix of fresh, frozen, and prepared foods) and even those pesty aiptasia have slowly been disappearing! Great fish for the dedicated aquarist!
Tracey K
Liberty Township , OH
it is true that the are very difficult to get eating prepared food. But once they do they eat almost anything. Gets along well with all of the fish in my tank. But beware they will pick at and eat clams and any meaty LPS coral such as brain or doughnut corals.
Howard Reife
Shawnee , KS
My beautiful Copperband Butterfly fish lasted less than 2 days in my tank. Now my yellow tang has died. Both purchased from LiveAquaria. The copper band was under warranty but not the tang. I do not fault LiveAquaria and will purchase from them again.
Jenny R
Buckeye , AZ
Got our about 2 weeks ago - very finicky eater. Just now it is starting to eat mysis and brine shrimp; it spends most of its time eating off the live rocks; it will do best in an established tank with LOTS of amphipod; we have a refugium where they can bred without being eaten right away, so the supply it is good for now; definetely not a fish for beginners.
Joseph Mohr
Machesney Park , IL
Got mine, and was able to get him eating live brine shrimp from day 1, before transitioning to frozen mysis shrimp on day 2. Fantastic fish that is shy, but always comes to the front of the tank when I approach.
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