Common name: threadfin butterflyfish

General information

The Threadfin Butterflyfish, scientifically known as Chaetodon auriga, is a popular marine species among aquarists due to its striking appearance and active demeanor. This species is easily recognizable by its yellow body, adorned with a 'thread-like' dorsal filament and a distinctive black vertical band running through the eye. A white band edged in black traces the back part of the body, and a dark spot on the rear of the dorsal fin is often present, which can be used to distinguish it from similar species.

Care

Chaetodon auriga requires a well-established aquarium with plenty of swimming space and hiding places among live rock. They are not the easiest species to keep, as they can be picky eaters and may require a varied diet including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and high-quality marine flakes and pellets. It's important to note that they may nip at soft and stony corals, so they are better suited for fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) setups.

Reproduction

In the wild, Threadfin Butterflyfish form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. They are pelagic spawners, meaning that eggs and sperm are released into the water column. In the home aquarium, breeding is quite rare, and there are no well-documented cases of successful captive breeding.

Habitat

The natural habitat of the Threadfin Butterflyfish spans across the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, and from southern Japan to Australia. They are typically found in coral-rich areas of lagoons and seaward reefs, at depths ranging from 1 to 35 meters.