Larvatus Butterflyfish - Chaetodon larvatus

Larvatus Butterflyfish (Chaetodon larvatus)

The Larvatus Butterflyfish is a striking Red Sea butterflyfish recognised for its warm yellow-orange body, contrasting facial mask and elegant disc-shaped profile. Beautiful but highly specialised, it is best suited to experienced marine aquarists with mature systems, excellent water quality and carefully planned feeding. Due to its natural reliance on coral polyps, it should not be considered reef safe.

Common Name:
Larvatus Butterflyfish, Hooded Butterflyfish

Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon larvatus

Maximum Size:
Approximately 12–14 cm

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
The Larvatus Butterflyfish is associated with Red Sea coral reef environments, where it inhabits coral-rich reef slopes and areas with extensive hard coral growth.

It spends much of its time moving around living coral colonies while feeding on 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 Larvatus Butterflyfish is generally peaceful towards unrelated marine fish but may show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish.

It is best housed with calm, non-aggressive tankmates that will not intimidate it or outcompete it at feeding time.

Diet:
Specialist Corallivore

The Larvatus Butterflyfish naturally feeds heavily on live coral polyps and can be extremely difficult to maintain long term in captivity.

New specimens may be reluctant to accept conventional prepared foods.

Where possible, offer a varied selection of finely chopped marine foods, enriched brine shrimp, mysis, mussel and other suitable foods while monitoring feeding response very closely.

Minimum Tank Size:
Approximately 300 litres

A spacious, mature aquarium with extensive rockwork and excellent water quality is strongly recommended.

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

It benefits from open swimming space together with complex rockwork and sheltered areas.

Once settled, it can become a graceful and highly visible display fish, but maintaining body condition can be challenging because of its specialised natural diet.

Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe

The Larvatus Butterflyfish should not be considered reef safe.

It naturally feeds on coral polyps and is likely to damage stony corals in a conventional reef aquarium.

It is therefore better suited to specialist fish-only marine systems where its feeding requirements can be closely managed.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
This species is best suited to experienced marine aquarists due to its highly specialised feeding requirements.

Provide a mature aquarium with stable water chemistry, excellent filtration and strong oxygenation.

Monitor new specimens very carefully to ensure they begin feeding and maintain body weight.

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

Avoid aggressive or fast-feeding tankmates that may prevent the butterflyfish from accessing food.

Because long-term feeding can be difficult, this species should only be selected where the aquarist is prepared to provide intensive feeding and close observation.

Suitable for:
Experienced

Availability:
Availability can vary significantly 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.