Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)

The Auriga Butterflyfish or Chaetodon auriga is one of the many beautiful species of Butterflyfish.  This fish, also called the Threadfin Butterflyfish, is one of the more popular species to house in an aquarium.  Just one of the many species in the Chaetodontidae family, this saltwater fish is considered to be very hardy and easy to take care with the proper conditions.  Providing this fish with lots of hiding spots and the follow water conditions will keep it happy and healthy, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.2-8.4 and sg 1.021-1.023.

The Auriga Butterflyfish has the typical Butterflyfish shape with a thin body that is somewhat squared off and a tiny pointed mouth.  They have a colorful arrangement of yellows, whites and blacks including a false eyespot on their dorsal fin that keeps potential predators confused about which end is which.  The false eyespot is not always a part of their body depending on what part of the world they are located.  You can have a look at the Threadfin Butterflyfish in the video below...

Auriga Butterflyfish are omnivores that should be fed a variety of foods including flake food and plankton.  If cared for properly these fish can reach lengths of about 8", so a tank of 60 gallons or more is highly recommended.

In the wild these fish are found in shallow waters of up to 30 meters in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea in places like Japan, Hawaii and South Africa to name a few.