Sunset Butterflyfish

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
  The Sunset Butterflyfish or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish was described by Kner in 1868, and was first collected in Palau. Its scientific name pelewensis was derived from the locality. They are found in the South Pacific Oceans; Palau, Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cooks, Societies, Marquesas, Tuamotu Archipelago.
   Adults are usually seen in mated pairs in their natural habitat and juveniles can be observed alone in shallower waters. They dwell in clear coral-rich areas, rocky reefs, and reef-patch slopes at depths between 3 - 98 feet (1- 30 meters)

Status:
   These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The adult Sunset Butterflyfish are brownish yellow on the upper 2/3 of the body, gradually shading to white ventrally. There are several deep brown bands running diagonally, becoming a dot pattern anteriorly. There is an orange area on the caudal peduncle, a black spot on the nape, and a yellow band edged by black through the eye. The fins are yellowish brown. The dorsal fin has a yellow margin, the anal fin has a white margin, and both have a black submarginal line. The caudal fin is yellow basally with a black line centrally and the pelvic fins are white. Juveniles are very similar.
   It is closely related and very similar in body shape and colors to the Spot-banded butterflyfish C. punctatofasciatus from the western Pacific, and they mix in some ranges. Hybrid crosses are observed and shipped from these areas on occasion. The hybrids have intermediate but variable color patterns of the parental species. Some of the patterns are rather complicated with irregular bands and spots, however almost all cases can be readily distinguished from other species of Chaetodon.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Adults reach about 5 inches (12.5 cm), but most available specimens are less than 3 1/2 inches (9 cm).

Maintenance difficulty:
   The Sunset Butterflyfish or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish is one of the more difficult butterflyfish to keep in the captive environment. In the aquarium they will readily accept substitute foods and can do well for some period. However its diet must be monitored carefully and include a wide variety of proteins along with algae and live foods. Because it will harm the polyps of hard and soft corals, it is not recommended for reef-type aquariums.
   Many of the Chaetodon members are often very colorful and attractive to aquarists. Unfortunately some of them are rather difficult to keep for a long period. Some are exclusively coral eaters, and sometimes they suffer from “ich” (white spot disease) and other infectious diseases.They can be treated successfully with medical care or copper drugs, but some species hate sudden changes of water including PH, temperature, or any drug treatment.
   The Sunset Butterflyfish is one of those that is somewhat sensitive to water changes and it can also be sensitive to some drugs. Be sure to observe this fish closely when medicating it, so you can remove it if it shows signs of stress. It will eat the polyps of hard and soft corals, so is not recommended for reef-type aquariums.
   In the wild a cleaner wrasse (Labroides sp.) will help them by taking parasites from their bodies, however these wrasses are extremely difficult to sustain in captivity. Alternative fish such as Neon Gobies (Gobiosoma spp.) can help them by providing this cleaning service in the home aquarium.

Diseases that Marine Butterflyfish are susceptible to:
Marine Ich(white spot disease), Marine Velvet, Uronema marinum, and Lymphocystis

Dr. Jungle says, "Hiroyuki shares his experience in keeping this butterflyfish..."
"I have kept two adult individuals of 7-8cm in a non-reef tank, and the beautifully marked butterflyfish were doing well except for foods. One individual did well without any trouble and survived for several months. White spot diseases attacked them but one of them successfully recovered only by using an appropriate copper sulfate, however it seemed rather sensitive to drugs." ...Hiroyuki Tanaka

Foods:
   The Sunset Butterflyfish or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish are omnivores. In the wild they eat lots of hard and soft coral polyps along with algae, polychaete worm tentacles and peanut worms. In the aquarium it will readily accept substitute foods. Provide a variety of finely chopped meaty foods such as fresh or frozen seafood, live brineshrimp, and blackworms, dried flakes, shrimps, tablets, and Japanese Nori (Asakusa-nori). They have a very small mouth so all foods must be very fine. Also provide algae and prepared frozen formulas including those containing algae. Once it is successfully acclimated it can become hardy and live for some period. Feed it at least twice a day, and if it is a tiny juvenile, feeding should be tried three to four times everyday.

Maintenance:
   Though not a very quick swimmer it swims freely, usually spending a good deal of its time in the open water and moving in and out of crevices. Frequent water changes are not necessary, rather normal water changes at 10% biweekly or 20% monthly are fine. Sudden massive water changes can cause trouble and this fish is rather sensitive to water changes.
   For more information see, Marine Aquarium Basics: Maintenance

Aquarium Parameters:
   This fish is not a very quick swimmer and will spend a good deal of its time in the open areas. Even so, the tank should be well decorated with rocks/ corals with many hiding places, even for adults. This fish will nip at the polyps of hard and soft coral species, so it is not recommended for coral-rich reefs.
Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 50 gallon (190 liters) or larger.
Light: Recommended light levels
   It is best kept under the normal lighting conditions, but can also be kept under very bright light as long as some dimly lit spaces are provided.
Temperature:
   This species lives in both tropical and temperate areas. Temperatures between 72 -79° F (22 - 26° C) will serve them well, but temperatures higher than 84° F (29° C) or below 68° F (20° C) would not be good.
Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   Water movement is not a significant factor. It can tolerate a rather strong flow but slow-moving water will be more favorable.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   It swims freely and usually spends time in the open water.

Social Behaviors:
   The Sunset Butterflyfish is a non-reef safe fish. Though it does well in a coral-rich tank, it will nip the polyps of hard and soft coral species. It it best kept in a fish only community tank that is well decorated with rocks/ corals and many hiding places.
   This species is generally not an aggressive fish and will get along well with other butterflyfish, as well as other members of its own kind. If keeping more than one though, be sure to introduce them into the aquarium together. It is best to select other tank mates that are not overly territorial or aggressive. It can however be kept with the larger and rather territorial angelfishes like Pomacanthus and Holacanthus. Centropyge, along with other angelfish members of Apolemichthys, Genicanthus, Chaetodontoplus and Pygoplites could also be good tank mates. Smaller non-aggressive fishes like cardinalfish, gobies, tilefish, fairy basslets, fairy and flasher wrasses, etc. are also good candidates as tank mates. Small but very territorial fishes like dottybacks should be avoided. Such fish as Basses or scorpionfish, even if they are small enough, should also be avoided. Larger frogfishes can swallow everything, so also should be avoided.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   No sexual difference is noted for this species. Butterflyfish species studied up to this time indicate that these fish are gonochoristic, meaning that each fish is either a male or a female and they do not change sex.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   This species has not been cultivated in captivity. Marine butterflyfish have not reportedly been spawned successfully in captivity. There are, however, reports of some success in rearing wild collected larvae of some of the corallivorous butterflyfish. It is hoped these captive reared fish will be adapted to accept aquarium foods, and thus broaden the species selections that can be sustained in captivity.
   For more information see, Marine Fish Breeding. 

Buy Sunset Butterflyfish From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Sunset Butterflyfish or Dot-and-Dash Butterflyfish is often available at retailers. Most of those that are available are smaller than 3 1/2 inches (9 cm), but juveniles less than 1 1/2 inches (4 cm ) are rarely obtainable. This fish is priced starting from about $20.00 USD and up.