🐠 Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
🐠Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
Marine Butterflyfish • Aiptasia Control Specialist • Reef-Associated Show Fish • Elegant Long-Snout Hunter
📋 The Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) is a graceful marine species recognized for its copper-orange vertical bands and elongated snout.
It is highly valued as a Natural Aiptasia Control Specialist, often used to manage pest anemones in reef aquariums.
Its slender mouth allows it to probe rock crevices for worms and small invertebrates.
Best suited for mature systems with stable water conditions, it thrives as an Elegant Reef Display Butterflyfish in larger marine aquariums.
💡 Highlights
🧡 Copper Vertical Bands: Striking white and orange pattern
🪱 Aiptasia Hunter: Helps control pest anemones
👃 Long Probing Snout: Designed for crevice feeding
🌊 Peaceful Swimmer: Generally calm temperament
🌿 Reef Safe: ⚠️ (may nip at some corals or feather dusters)
🧾 A Quick Look at the Copperband Butterflyfish
📛 Common Name: Copperband Butterflyfish / Beaked Coralfish
🔬 Scientific Name: Chelmon rostratus
👨👩👧 Family: Chaetodontidae
🌍 Origin: Indo-Pacific • Thailand • Indonesia • Great Barrier Reef • Philippines
📏 Max Size: 20 cm (≈ 8")
💧 pH Range: 8.1 – 8.4
🌡️ Temperature Range: 24 – 28 °C (75 – 82 °F)
🧠 Care Level: Moderate to Difficult
💖 Temperament: Peaceful
🪸 Reef Safe: ⚠️ With caution – may nip feather dusters or LPS corals
🏠 Min Tank Size: 300 L (79 US gallons)
📌 Tank Level: Mid to lower water column
🧬 Captive Bred: ❌ No
🌿 Wild Caught: ✅ Yes – sustainably sourced from Indo-Pacific reefs
⏳ Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
🍽️ Diet: Carnivore (worms • crustaceans • small invertebrates)
🐣 Reproduction: Egg layer; forms pairs during breeding
