🐠 Double Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis)
A White Body With Two Bold Black Saddle Markings • A Valued Aiptasia and Majano Predator • One of the Hardier Butterflyfish
 
📋 The Double Saddle Butterflyfish, also known as the Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish or False Falcula Butterflyfish, has a striking white body marked with thin black vertical lines, two thicker black saddle-shaped patches, a black eye band, and a bright yellow posterior with a black spot on the tail.
It comes from a vast range across the central Indo-Pacific, from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Tuamotu Islands and north to Japan, inhabiting coral-rich lagoon and seaward reefs, with juveniles often found sheltering in harbours and estuaries. A valuable natural behaviour: this species is documented to actively hunt and eliminate Aiptasia and Majano pest anemones, typically clearing them within 2 to 6 weeks depending on tank size and infestation level, and unlike many similar butterflyfish, it rarely targets ornamental corals directly. Every Double Saddle Butterflyfish we ship is feeding well.
It's one of the hardier butterflyfish species, readily accepting most prepared foods. It's not fully reef safe, as it may still consume mushroom corals, anemones, and stony corals, and it can be shy at first before becoming a confident, assertive feeder once settled. It reaches up to 15cm, so plan on at least 450L.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 White Body With Two Black Saddles: A distinctive, classic butterflyfish pattern
🌺 A Valued Aiptasia and Majano Predator: A natural pest controller
💪 One of the Hardier Butterflyfish: Readily accepts prepared foods
🪸 Not Reef Safe: May consume mushroom corals, anemones, and stony corals
🍽️ Ships Feeding Well: A confident eater once settled