Name: BUTTERFLY - TEARDROP Chaetodon unimaculatus
SKU: 9790
Price: 79.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

BUTTERFLY – TEARDROP Chaetodon unimaculatus

$79.99

The Teardrop Butterflyfish is native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. It has simplistic beauty, with white coloration on its belly that transitions to yellow toward its dorsal side. The posterior and anterior stripes make a bold statement, along with its black eyespot (or teardrop) in the midsection of its body. The Teardrop butterfly may be confused with its closely related counterpart, the Yellow Teardrop Butterfly (Chaetodon interruptus), but this species is overall yellow in color. An adult Teardrop butterfly can reach a size of approximately 8″.

Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Reef Compatible: No

General Description: The Teardrop Butterflyfish is native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. It has simplistic beauty, with white coloration on its belly that transitions to yellow toward its dorsal side. The posterior and anterior stripes make a bold statement, along with its black eyespot (or teardrop) in the midsection of its body. The Teardrop butterfly may be confused with its closely related counterpart, the Yellow Teardrop Butterfly (Chaetodon interruptus), but this species is overall yellow in color. An adult Teardrop butterfly can reach a size of approximately 8″.

Diet Requirements: Teardrop butterflies are omnivores. Encouraging a butterfly to accept prepared foods can be a challenge at first. We have found that offering live brine shrimp at the beginning can gain the interest of particularily fussy or stubborn individuals. Note: All of our butterflies for sale are eating frozen foods. A diet consisting of various frozen meaty and vegetable preparations such as brine shrimp, spirulina brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other mixed foods will maintain optimal health and coloration. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements, as butterflyfish have high metabolisms. It is not uncommon for butterflyfish to revert back to only accepting live foods for a period of time due to the stress of a new environment.

Care Requirements: An established, minimum 125 gallon aquarium is ideal. The Teardrop butterfly will appreciate some live rock and crevices to swim through and take refuge. Butterflyfish are sensitive to nitrite and ammonia spikes, and an established tank will also offer more abundant microfauna to forage on. Given their more timid nature, a Teardrop butterfly should not be kept with overly aggressive species, especially those that can outcompete it in food resources. Compatability with other butterfly species is variable. A Teardrop butterfly would make a great addition to a peaceful fish only with live rock aquarium. Most butterflyfish are not reef safe because they will nip at corals, anemones and feather dusters. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.

Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/4″; Medium: 2-1/4″ to 3-1/2″; Large: 3-1/2″ to 4-1/2″

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.

Dry goods orders are shipped via US Postal Service or UPS to the address provided at checkout based on the selection made in your website shopping cart. Product is carefully packed to help prevent any damage during shipping. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number, and delivery notification. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.

Perishable items (i.e. live plants, refrigerated/frozen foods) are shipped via US Postal Service 2-3 day to the address provided at checkout for a $25.00 flat rate charge. Items are packed with secure packing material and heat, cold, or Cryo packs as needed to maintain safe temperatures during transit. If one or more perishable items are in the shopping cart at checkout the $25.00 perishable shipping charge will automatically appear and need to be selected. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.

Livestock (i.e. fish, invertebrates, coral) are shipped via UPS Overnight to the address provided at checkout for a $55.00 flat rate charge. Livestock is packed in insulated styrofoam boxes with secure packing material and heat, cold, or Cryo packs as needed to maintain safe temperatures during transit. If one or more livestock items are in the shopping cart at checkout the $55.00 livestock shipping charge will automatically appear and need to be selected. Livestock is shipped Monday through Wednesday ONLY (no weekend delivery is available) weather permitting, and we reserve the right to delay shipping until conditions are appropriate for safe arrival. Once your order is placed we will contact you to arrange the best shipping date based on these criteria. Someone must be available to receive the livestock order on the first delivery attempt. Once processed you will receive a shipment notification via email with tracking number. Please allow 48 hours for processing after your order is placed.

For mixed dry goods/perishable & livestock orders items will be shipped via their corresponding shipping methods outlined above. Dry goods will be shipped via US Postal Service or UPS based on your selection and checkout, while livestock will ship via UPS Overnight for a $55.00 flat rate charge. You will receive separate notifications and tracking numbers for the dry goods and livestock. Please note due to different carriers and shipping methods dry goods and livestock may arrive on different days.

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