Goldhead Butterflyfish - MED

The Goldhead Butterflyfish gets its name from the gold or yellow colouring on its face and fins. It is a beautiful fish, with a pearl white body contained in a yellow trim or "halo". There are blue/grey lines running down the body in a chevron pattern and a black line that runs through its eye. While the edges of the fins are yellow, the main areas of the dorsal and anal fins are darker. The tailfin is translucent inside the yellow trim.

There are no reports of breeding in captivity. Difficulties arise because the young stay in the pelagic stage for a long time. They form pairs when they breed. The female swells in size before spawning and will scatter the eggs in the water. Once the eggs are released, the male fertilizes them. The eggs float in the water for up to 30 hours before hatching. There are no distinguishing marks between males and females, making sexing extremely difficult.

This species is distributed across the Indian Ocean. From South Africa and Madagascar to Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Western Thailand. In the wild, they are generally solitary and inhabit areas around coral heads. Usually between depths of 1-30 metres.

Tank Recommendations for your Goldhead Butterflyfish

The Goldhead Butterflyfish needs a tank with a capacity of at least 125 gallons (473 litres).

This species is not reef safe as will eat a variety of corals and small invertebrates. A suitable tank should be fish only with live rock (FOWLR). There should be plenty of space available for swimming,

Butterflyfish will do well in an environment that replicates their natural habitat. A tank should have swift water movement and suitable plant life.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Goldhead Butterflyfish is considered a peaceful species. It is best suited to cohabiting with fish of a similar size and temperament.

It may become territorial with conspecifics and other species of Butterflyfish. However, it can cohabit as a mated pair if both fish are introduced at the same time.

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank buddies include peaceful species such as Fairy Wrasses, Pufferfish, Gobies, and Dartfish.

Sometime Compatible

Conspecifics are ok as a mated pair as long as they are introduced to the tank at the same time. Groupers, Squirrelfish, Eels, Triggerfish, and Lionfish/Scorpionfish will need monitoring.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid housing slow movers and very small fish with your Goldhead Butterflyfish. Large, aggressive predators such as Sharks and Rays are also unsuitable tank buddies.

Feeding your Goldhead Butterflyfish

The Goldhead Butterflyfish is an omnivore. In the wild, they feed on coral polyps and algae. Captive fish need a varied diet that includes meaty foods such as mysis shrimp and brine shrimp. Finely chopped squid, clams, mussels, and crab are also popular. Its diet should also include vegetable produce, food flakes and vitamin boosting supplements. Feed several times per day.