Chaetodon ornatissimus

Cuvier, 1831

Ornate Butterflyfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Sri Lanka east to Hawaiian, Marquesas, and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.

Size: 7 inches (17 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow sheltered lagoons, back reefs, reef flats and fore-reef slopes rich in stony coral growth at depths between 10 – 100 feet (3 - 30 m) and feeds mainly on SPS coral polyps.

General Husbandry: One of the most attractive species in this entire family, with a white body having several slanting yellow bands, and a black eye band and another narrow black band on the mouth. Very rarely seen in the trade because its a SPS coral feeder and has proven to be extremely difficult to maintain in captivity unless fed live coral polyps!

Taxonomy: ul>

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Chaetodontidae

Genus: Chaetodon

FYI: Best left in the wild!

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Corallivore

Coral Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5