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Marine   Fishes

Redtail butterflyfish
(Chaetodon collare)

Chaetodon collare

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

Names

Scientific name
Chaetodon collare
Chaetodon collaris
Chaetodon fowleri
Chaetodon parallelus
Chaetodon praetextatus
Chaetodon viridis
Chaetodon aureus

Common name
Redtail butterflyfish
Pakistani Butterflyfish
Brown butterflyfish
Collare butterflyfish
Collared butterflyfish

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Southern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean
Natural habitat: it lives naturally in coral reefs and rocky areas

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

None

Group

Group

Chaetodontidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

500 L / 110 imp gal / 132 US gal

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this fish?

T°: 24 à 26°C or 75 to 79°F
pH: 8.1 to 8.5
Density: 1021 to 1025

Difficulty

Difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

up to 20cm (8")

Longevity

what is the average life expectancy of this fish?

10 to 15 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Middle

Individuals

sociability of the species

1

Food

How to feed the Redtail butterflyfish?

Food

How to feed the Redtail butterflyfish?

The Chaetodon collare is an omnivorous fish with a carnivorous tendency. It is not difficult and consumes almost everything that passes in front of its nose!

For its meals, distribute krill, artemia, mysis, daphnia, mussels, tubifex, fish flesh, Chironomides larvae and even nereis!

It will naturally find the plant part in the aquarium because it consumes the algae that form on the rocks.

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Redtail butterflyfish have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Redtail butterflyfish have?

Pacific and sociable, this does not prevent him from being quite active. As a result, he is not aggressive but he is not peaceful either.

It needs enough space to swim freely, while providing retreats and hiding places, which is why a large aquarium is necessary to have even one individual of this species.

It often grazes on the algae it finds on the set.

When it arrives, it may seem a little shy, which is normal. Once well acclimatized, it will not be at all!

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Redtail butterflyfish?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Redtail butterflyfish?

In most aquariums, it is preferable to live alone. It is only from a volume of 1,000 liters/ 220 Imp Gal / 265 US Gal that cohabitation with congeners is conceivable. They will then live in groups (in the wild, these fish evolve in schools of about twenty specimens) which will allow to spread possible attacks of an aggressive specimen on several individuals.

For the other species, no particular problem to report except for the very shy species that the agitated side of the Chaetodon can disturb. Attention also with the other species of Chaetodon with which there can be territorial competition.

Maintenance in reef aquariums is not possible. Indeed, the Chaetodon is a natural predator of corals. Thus, it will attack anemones as well as corals, through tube worms.

Breeding

How to breed the Redtail butterflyfish?

Breeding

How to breed the Redtail butterflyfish?

No captive breeding protocol known to date.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Redtail butterflyfish?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Redtail butterflyfish?

A rocky environment will be ideal for this species, while leaving enough room on the periphery for this active swimmer. Form holes and hiding places with your stones to make it as safe as possible.

In addition, algae are welcome because they will be part of its diet: you will see it grazing regularly on the scenery.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

For a first experience with Chaetodon, this species is particularly recommended. Indeed, it is robust, sociable, easy to feed and less subject to stress than other species. It is also solid, presenting only few diseases and tolerating copper-based treatments quite well. In short, it is the species of Chaetodon that adapts most easily to captivity.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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