🐠 Golden Butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)
A Bright Yellow Body With Fine Red Vertical Lines • A Blue-Grey Eye Patch • A True Red Sea Endemic
 
📋 The Golden Butterflyfish, also known as the Golden Semilarvatus, Addis, or Bluecheek Butterflyfish, has a vivid, bright yellow body marked with fine, closely-spaced red vertical lines, and a distinctive dark blue-grey patch behind the eyes rather than the eye bar seen in most related species.
It comes from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a real geographic endemic, restricted to a much smaller range than most Chaetodon butterflyfish, and typically found in areas of rich coral growth, often in pairs or small groups. A fascinating natural behaviour: this species has been observed hovering motionless for extended periods beneath the ledges of plate corals. Every Golden Butterflyfish we ship is feeding well, with live foods or fresh clam a good way to welcome a new arrival.
It's peaceful toward most tankmates but can become territorial toward similarly patterned butterflyfish in smaller tanks. It's not reef safe, and will nip at and consume soft corals, stony coral polyps, ornamental shrimp, tubeworms, and anemones. It reaches up to 23cm, so plan on at least 470L.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Bright Yellow With Fine Red Lines: A vivid, iconic butterflyfish
🌍 A True Red Sea Endemic: A real geographic rarity restricted to a narrow range
🪸 Plate-Coral Hovering Behaviour: Documented resting motionless beneath ledges
🍽️ Ships Feeding Well: Live foods or fresh clam help it settle in further
🪸 Not Reef Safe: Will consume soft corals, coral polyps, and small invertebrates