All fish / Pantodontidae

African Butterfly Fish

Pantodon buchholzi

Also known as butterfly fish, african butterflyfish, freshwater butterfly fish, freshwater butterflyfish, butterfly fish african, ปลาผีเสื้อแอฟริกา, バタフライフィッシュ, ikan kupu-kupu afrika, 齿蝶鱼, 蝴蝶鱼, 非洲蝴蝶鱼

A flat-backed surface dweller with huge wing-like pectoral fins and long trailing pelvic rays, mottled in brown and olive. It sits motionless under floating plants waiting for insects to land, which makes it an unusual centrepiece for a calm, dimly lit tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or a small group in a large tank; males may squabble

Diet

Carnivore: floating insects such as crickets and flies, bloodworm, mosquito larvae, floating pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West and Central Africa: Niger, Congo and Zambezi basins, Lake Chad, coastal rivers from Nigeria to Cameroon

Breeding

Eggs are scattered and float at the surface, hatching in a few days; they should be removed to a separate container. The tiny fry need very small floating live foods, so rearing is difficult and seldom achieved at home.

Good to know

It can jump and glide well, so a tight lid with a gap above the water is essential. It will eat small fish that fit in its mouth and should not be kept with fin nippers or boisterous surface feeders.