Red Tailed Butterflyfish - Medium

The Red-Tailed Butterflyfish has a beautiful, rich brown colouring on its body. Lighter, spotted scales cover it, giving a fantastic, patterned contrast. The face is black with a bold white band running vertically behind its eye. It also has a thinner white line around the snout. The distinctive caudal fin is red at the base and trimmed with a black and white band.

Not much information is known about the Red-Tailed Butterflyfish’s breeding patterns. However, they are known to be monogamous and form distinct pairs. As a rule, Butterflyfish are oviparous. During breeding, females will spawn into open water. Breeding in captivity can be problematic due to the difficulty in rearing the fry.

This species inhabits Indo-West Pacific waters. Including locations such as the Maldives, Persian Gulf, Indonesia, Philippines, and Japan. It is a reef dweller, usually swimming on shallow areas, between depths of 3-15 metres.

Tank Recommendations for your Red-Tailed Butterflyfish

The Red-tailed Butterflyfish needs a tank that is at least 125 gallons (473 litres).

This species isn't suitable for a reef aquarium. They are a threat to sessile invertebrates and will nip at corals and stone polyps. It is an active swimmer and needs a large area of open water. A tank should also have plenty of rockwork, with caves and crevices for shelter.

Butterflyfish will benefit from an environment that resembles their natural habitat. Strong water movement and a selection of plant life are highly recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Red-Tailed Butterflyfish has a peaceful temperament. It will happily co-habit with fish that have similar personality traits.

It can be kept as a pair if both fish are introduced at the same time.

Usually Compatible

Peaceful species such as Pufferfish, Dartfish, Fairy Wrasses, and Gobies make good tankmates.

Sometime Compatible

Conspecifics can be housed as a pair if introduced at the same time. Species such as Squirrelfish, Groupers, Triggerfish, Eels, and Lionfish/Scorpionfish will need monitoring.

Rarely Compatible

Very small fish should be avoided, as well as slow movers like Seahorses. Bigger predators such as Sharks and Rays are unsuitable companions.

Feeding your Red-Tailed Butterflyfish

The Red-Tailed Butterflyfish is a carnivore. It enjoys a variety of foods, including shrimp, fish, and crustacean flesh. Frozen meaty preparations are also good for its diet. Feeding should occur several times per day.