Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Chaetodon

Chaetodon burgessi

Allen & Starck, 1973

Burgess' Butterflyfish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Taiwan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Marshall Islands.

Size: 5 inches (13 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits deep drop-off areas where gorgonians and black corals abide in depths between 50 to 250 feet (15 – 75 m) and feeds on gorgonians, black corals, worms, crustaceans, sponges, and other invertebrates.

General Husbandry: This attractive species has a silvery body with three slanted black bands, with the first through the eyes, a second just aft of the head, and the third, which is quite wide, encompassing the rear third of the body and most of the dorsal and anal fins. There’s also a variant having similar body markings, yet the body is a creamy yellow. They are quite hardy and easy to maintain since it often readily accepts a wide range of foodstuffs.

Adapts quite easily to aquarium life, even though somewhat shy when first introduced, in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places and somewhat dimmed lighting.

This species should be offered a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, and also flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina, and be offered several times daily

Will also decimate Aiptasia anemones, yet if more suitable/preferred foods are available, that may not always occur.

Rarely is there a problem getting this species to feed in the aquarium, yet should that occur, small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium may help entice it to begin feeding. Over time, frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp, and various fake foods should be more readily accepted.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Chaetodontidae

    Genus: Chaetodon

FYI: Juveniles acclimate more easily to aquarium life than do adults.

Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Chaetodon burgessi (Burgess' Butterflyfish)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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