Copperband Butterflyfish

Copperband Butterflyfish are obligate carnivores that require live or frozen foods and refuse dry pellets or flakes. Feed small frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and copepods once daily. They will also consume small crustaceans and may pick at Aiptasia anemones, making them valuable for reef pest control.

This species is generally peaceful and non-aggressive toward other fish, though it can be shy and reclusive during acclimation. It spends much of its time probing crevices and rockwork with its elongated snout searching for small invertebrates. Once established, it becomes more active and confident, displaying its striking copper-banded coloration.

Breeding Copperband Butterflyfish in captivity is extremely rare and has not been reliably achieved in home aquariums. They require very large systems with specific environmental conditions and larval rearing capabilities that are impractical for most hobbyists. All specimens in the aquarium trade are wild-caught.