Chaetodon fasciatus

Forsskal, 1775

Red Sea Raccoon Butterflyfish

Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef flats, reef faces and fore-reef slopes, at depths of about 6 – 85 feet (2 – 25 m) and feeds on stony and soft coral polyps, worms, sea anemones, hydroids, tunicates, crustaceans, sponges, urchin feet, and somewhat on algae.

General Husbandry: Quite attractive, as it has a yellow body with eleven diagonal stripes, black eye band, partial white band on the forehead, and yellow dorsal, anal, and tail fins.

Should be housed in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places, and having micro and macroalgae growths. As to diet, a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) is a good beginning. Once feeding regularly, various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, can be offered several times daily.

Note, even though this species is technically listed as a carnivore, its also known to injest algae in the wild when more preferred foods are not plentiful, therefore flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should also be occasionally offered.

Should there be a problem getting this species to feeds, small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium may help entice it to begin feeding. Over time, frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp may be more readily accepted. Furthermore, if feeding in captivity begins, this becomes a very hardy species!

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Chaetodontidae

Genus: Chaetodon

FYI: Should not be maintained with others in the same genus, unless a mated pair.

Is said to be safe with soft corals, yet becomes destructive with age.

Juveniles acclimate more easily to aquarium life than do adults.

Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5