All fish / Chaetodontidae

St. Helena butterflyfish

Chaetodon sanctaehelenae

Also known as saint helena butterflyfish, st helena butterflyfish, ascension butterflyfish, white butterflyfish, セントヘレナバタフライフィッシュ, 圣赫勒拿蝴蝶鱼

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A pale silvery white butterflyfish with yellow edges to the fins and a dark band through the eye. It is endemic to two remote South Atlantic islands, so it is a rare collector's fish valued for its clean look and ready acceptance of aquarium foods. In the wild it often forms large schools in mid-water and picks at plankton and algae.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly, in pairs or in small groups in large tanks

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, marine algae and quality flake or pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Atlantic: St Helena and Ascension islands

Breeding

It spawns pelagic eggs in the open water and the larvae drift for some time before settling. Captive breeding has not been achieved in home aquariums.

Good to know

Very rarely exported and usually expensive; it prefers slightly cooler water than most reef fish. Like other butterflyfish it may pick at some corals and invertebrates, so it is not fully reef safe.