Copperband Butterflyfish
Snapshot: Its vibrant orange-gold and pearlescent white or copper bands adorn both sides of its body. It has a mysterious dark spot near the end of its dorsal fin, cunningly resembling an eye (perhaps a clever ploy to confuse and deter predators?).
Other tidbits: Can grow up to 20cm or so. Range extends from East Africa, via the Indian Ocean and Indonesia, into the Pacific. If you're looking for an aiptasia assassin for your aquarium, the Copperband is your ultimate weapon.
Bare bones must know: Live-rock fish-only system, or reef system with care. Keep a close eye out for the first hint of thinning. Stable, top-notch water quality.
Aquarium set-up: This breathtaking beauty demands a mature tank decked out with live rock galore — perfect for endless grazing adventures. Keep the currents flowing moderately, and don't forget, these fish are sensitive souls, so a mature tank is key for their happiness. Maintain an aquatic utopia by nailing the basics: rock-solid water quality with top-notch filtration and routine partial water changes.
Feeding: This shy and deliberate feeder isn't one to dive headfirst into a meal. You might need to pull out all the stops, offering a variety of foods to entice it to start chowing down. Treat them to a feast of brine shrimp, clams, mussels, blackworms, and small pieces of clam. At the first hint of thinning, amp up the feeding rate and swap in higher-fat options like mysis shrimp.
AQT note: All our fish feast on a diet of seaweed, marine pellets, flakes and frozen treats under our care. Keep the feast going in your tank!