Panda Butterflyfish
Size: 8 inches (20 cm)
Natural Environment: Adults inhabit coastal reef faces and fore-reef slopes at depths between 10 to 80 feet (3 – 25 m) and are usually found near soft coral growths, yet mainly feed on stony coral polyps, crabs, worms, and other invertebrates. Usually lives in pairs or small groups. Juveniles are solitary, and inhabit shallow protected coral reefs and estuaries.
General Husbandry: Quite attractive, as it has a whitish body with diagonal brown stripes with a broad somewhat rounded black band encompassing the eye, yet not continuous from one side to the other, and a black crown-like spot on the top center of the head. Its dorsal, anal, pelvic, and tail fins are bright yellow.
Rarely seen in the U.S. aquarium hobby, yet is said to adapt quite easily to aquarium life in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space and live rock hiding places. May be kept in pairs or small groups, but all should be introduced at the same time.
A meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis should be offered several times daily.
Should there be a problem getting this species to feed in the aquarium, 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 should be more readily accepted.
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: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5