All fish / Chaetodontidae

Marquesas butterflyfish

Chaetodon declivis

Also known as marquesan butterflyfish, declivis butterflyfish, declivis butterfly, marquesas butterfly, デクリビス・バタフライフィッシュ, 马克萨斯蝴蝶鱼

This butterflyfish has a white body with rows of dark spots and a bright orange-yellow back and rear half. It lives in deep water around remote central Pacific islands, so it is rarely seen in shops and is highly prized by collectors. Most specimens accept prepared foods well.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, chopped seafood, quality flakes and pellets, plus some algae-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Central Pacific: Marquesas, Line Islands, Pitcairn and Marshall Islands

Breeding

It scatters floating eggs in open water that drift as plankton, and it has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Deep-water collection makes it very expensive and rare. It may nip at soft corals, clams and some LPS, so it is only partly reef safe. It looks like Chaetodon burgessi and C. mitratus, so check what you are buying.