By Scott W. Michael
Butterflyfishes are icons of the coral reef. The vast majority are found in association with live corals, and at least some species depend entirely on these invertebrates as a source of nutrition. Because of their elegant shapes and bold color patterns, butterflyfishes are often sought out for the home aquarium.
But many of the 130-plus species of butterflyfishes do not do well in captivity, even for experienced marine aquarists. In most cases, the problem is the inability to switch from their natural food to a captive menu. This is especially true for those that have specialized diets (feeding only on stony coral polyps, for example). It is therefore essential that the hobbyist pays special attention to the biology and husbandry needs of any butterflyfish species of interest, carefully selecting among the aquarium-hardy species and avoiding those that cannot be successfully maintained in captivity.
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