Description
- Scientific Name: Chaetodon collare
- Common Names: Redtail Butterflyfish, Pakistani Butterflyfish, Collared Butterflyfish
- Maximum Length: 7 inches (18 cm)
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 75 gallons (284 liters) for a single fish; larger for pairs. Their active nature requires ample swimming space and rockwork.
- Foods and Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on coral polyps, benthic invertebrates, and algae in the wild. In aquariums, offer frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and algae-based flakes with spirulina. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily. May need live foods initially to acclimate.
- Reef Safety: Not reef-safe; known to nip at corals, anemones, and sessile invertebrates. Best for fish-only setups.
- Temperament: Peaceful to semi-aggressive; generally tolerant but may chase similar butterflyfish. Can be kept singly or in pairs if introduced together and provided with space.
- Description: The Redtail Butterflyfish brings a colorful presence to marine tanks. Its body is golden yellow with a black collar-like band behind the head, vertical black eye stripe, and a striking red-orange tail fin. Native to the Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, they inhabit coral reefs at depths of 3-40 meters. Difficult to acclimate but hardy once settled, they thrive in mature tanks with excellent water quality, rewarding keepers with their graceful swimming.
Fun Facts:
- The Redtail Butterflyfish absorbs the scent of the coral polyps it eats, which acts as a chemical camouflage or deterrent against predators, making it less detectable or appealing in its reef habitat.
- This species often forms lifelong monogamous pairs, swimming side-by-side while foraging on reefs—a behavior that’s relatively rare among fish and helps with territory defense and breeding success.
- Unlike adults that stick to coral reefs, young Redtail Butterflyfish frequently hang out in brackish estuaries, providing a safer nursery environment away from heavy predation and competition.
