Arabian Butterflyfish - Chaetodon melapterus

Arabian Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus)

The Arabian Butterflyfish is a striking marine butterflyfish recognised for its vivid yellow body, contrasting black facial markings and elegant disc-shaped profile. Beautiful but specialised, it is best suited to mature marine aquariums with excellent water quality, plenty of swimming space and carefully selected tankmates. Due to its natural feeding behaviour around coral reefs, it should not be considered reef safe.

Common Name:
Arabian Butterflyfish, Arabian Butterfly

Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon melapterus

Maximum Size:
Approximately 12–15 cm

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
The Arabian Butterflyfish is associated with tropical reef environments around the Red Sea and Arabian region, where it inhabits coral-rich reefs, lagoons and reef slopes.

It spends much of its time moving around living coral colonies while searching for coral polyps and other small reef-associated food items.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024–1.026
Nitrate: Low and stable
Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm

Temperament:
Peaceful to Semi-Aggressive

The Arabian Butterflyfish is generally peaceful towards unrelated marine fish but may show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish.

It is best housed with calm to moderately robust tankmates that will not intimidate it or prevent it from feeding successfully.

Diet:
Omnivore / Corallivore

The Arabian Butterflyfish naturally feeds heavily on coral polyps along with other small reef-associated foods.

In the aquarium, offer a varied diet including frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped prawn, mussel and quality marine preparations.

Newly introduced specimens should be monitored carefully to ensure they begin feeding consistently.

Minimum Tank Size:
Approximately 300 litres

A spacious, mature aquarium with extensive rockwork and open swimming room is strongly recommended.

Behaviour & Activity:
The Arabian Butterflyfish is an active daytime swimmer that spends much of its time moving around coral and rock structure in search of food.

It benefits from a combination of open swimming space and sheltered retreat areas.

Once settled, it can become a highly visible and elegant display fish.

Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe

The Arabian Butterflyfish should not be considered reef safe.

It may feed directly on hard coral polyps and can also investigate other sessile invertebrates.

It is therefore generally better suited to fish-only or carefully planned marine systems rather than conventional mixed reef aquariums.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Provide a mature marine aquarium with stable water chemistry, excellent filtration and strong oxygenation.

Extensive rockwork should be available for shelter and natural grazing behaviour.

Monitor new specimens carefully to ensure they are feeding well and maintaining body condition.

Several small feedings throughout the day are preferable to one large meal.

Avoid aggressive tankmates that may intimidate the fish or outcompete it at feeding time.

Stable water quality and regular varied feeding are important for long-term success.

Suitable for:
Intermediate to Experienced

Availability:
Availability can vary depending on season, collection area and supplier.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.