Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: No
General Description: The Klein’s Butterflyfish, also known as the Sunburst, Orange, Brown, Corallicola, or Blacklip Butterflyfish is native to the Indo-Pacific ocean ranging from from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and New Caledonia. It is also found in Galapagos Islands in the Eastern Pacific. They are primarily golden-yellow with either a black or a black and blue eye band. The color varies somewhat across the range; western specimens usually have one beige bar on the body, while eastern ones have two white bars. They reach an adult size of approximately 6 inches.
Diet Requirements: This Butterflyfish is naturally an omnivore, primarily preying upon benthic invertebrates such as coral, mussels, and crustaceans. It is ideal to provide a balanced diet of both meaty items such as chopped fish, crustaceans, mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp and algae, such as Spirulina, Chlorella, and marine sheet algae.
Care Requirements: It may be kept in a 75 gallon aquarium individually, but would prefer a 120 gallon or larger aquarium with other butterflyfish, including members of its own species, if they were introduced to the tank at the same time. A fish only or fish only with live rock setup is best since the Klein’s Butterflyfish is not reef safe and may eat leather corals, other soft corals and small invertebrates. For this reason The Klein’s Butterflyfish may also be utilized as a biological control for aquarium pests such as Aptasia, and Bristleworm. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.
Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/4″ to 2″; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 2-3/4″; Large: 3″ to 4-1/4″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.