Oval Butterflyfish
A butterflyfish patterned in fine orange lines with a dark rear and yellow fins, usually seen paired in the wild. Beautiful, and one of the hardest to feed.
Feeding
An obligate coral polyp feeder in the wild. Most specimens refuse all prepared food and starve within months, even when offered live blackworm, mysis and clam several times daily.
Compatibility
Peaceful toward fish. Not reef safe – it eats coral polyps, which is the whole problem.
Behaviour and personality
Cruises slowly, usually as a bonded pair, picking constantly at coral.
Before you buy
| Important Note |
|---|
| This is an obligate corallivore, meaning it feeds on live coral polyps and very few specimens adapt to aquarium food. The great majority die of starvation. It is not recommended for beginners or reef tanks. |
FAQ
Can the Oval Butterflyfish be kept in a reef tank?
No, the Oval Butterflyfish is not reef safe as it feeds on live coral polyps.
What kind of food does the Oval Butterflyfish require?
It is an obligate coral polyp feeder and will not accept most prepared foods. Survival in captivity is rare without access to live coral polyps.
Is the Oval Butterflyfish aggressive toward other fish?
No, it is peaceful toward other fish and typically lives in pairs without aggression.
Lisa Sharp –
I bought this fish hoping for a beautiful addition, but it didn’t survive past two weeks. It refused all food and kept circling the tank. Not recommended for anyone without a coral polyp feeding setup.
Katherine Welch –
The fish looks stunning in appearance, but it’s extremely difficult to care for. After months of feeding live worms and mysis, it still starved. I regret the purchase.
Simon Mills –
It’s a visually striking fish, but I realized too late it’s not suitable for a standard aquarium. I had to remove it after it started eating my coral polyps.