Chaetodon zanzibariensis

Playfair, 1867

Zanzibar Butterflyfish

Range: Indian Ocean: East Africa to the Chagos Archipelago.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rich coral areas on reef faces and slopes at a depth of 10 to 100 feet (3 – 30 m) and generally found near Acropora growths, where it is said to mainly feed on coral polyps.

General Husbandry: This very rarely collected, yet pretty species, has a bright yellow body with a black patch on the upper mid body, black eye band and yellow dorsal, anal, pelvic, pectoral, and caudal fins.

Best housed in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, and live rock hiding places. This is often a difficult species to get feeding on regular aquarium foods, therefore, a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) may be necessary in the beginning, and once accepting these foodstuffs, various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, should be offered, all at several times daily.

Small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium may also help entice it to begin feeding. Over time, frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp may be more readily accepted.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Chaetodontidae

Genus: Chaetodon

FYI: 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: Professional

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: 55 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5