Chaetodon trifasciatus

Park, 1797

Indian Ocean Redfin Butterflyfish, Indian Ocean Pinstriped Butterflyfish

Range: Indian Ocean: East Africa.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons, back reef, reef flats, and fore-reef slopes rich in stony SPS coral growth at depths between 10 – 60 feet (3 - 18 m) and feeds on SPS ‘Acropora’ coral polyps.

General Husbandry: This very rarely collected, yet pretty species, basically has a yellowish lower frontal body and bluish upper rear body with numerous narrow horizontal bluish bands, black eye band, yellow peduncle, black band on tail, and yellowish-orange anal fin. Males have the first anal spine red, while the female’s is pink.

Needs a steady diet of SPS ‘Acropora’ coral polyps to survive!

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Chaetodontidae

Genus: Chaetodon

FYI: There does not appear to be any prolonged existence of this species in hobbyists’ aquariums! Therefore, 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: 75 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5