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Butterflyfish are known for their vibrant colours and striking patterning. There are several species of butterflyfish found in Australia, including the West Australian butterflyfish, the threadfin butterflyfish, the vagabond butterflyfish, the Gunther's butterflyfish, and the ornate butterflyfish. The wrought-iron butterflyfish, which is unusual for its stark black colouration, can also be found off the north, east, and west coasts of Australia.
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What You'll Learn
The West Australian butterflyfish
This species of butterflyfish is found over rocky reefs and sandy flats with weed growth, typically in aggregations. They feed on algae and zooplankton and are oviparous, forming pairs to spawn. They can be found at depths of 0-40m in the Eastern Indian Ocean, along the southern and western coasts of Western Australia, from southeast of Israelite Bay to Exmouth Gulf and the North West Shelf. There have also been claims of sightings in deep waters off Bali, but these are thought to be misidentifications.
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Gunther's Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish are indeed found in Australia, including Gunther's Butterflyfish, or Chaetodon guentheri. This species was first formally described in 1923 by Ahl and is native to the waters of Australia, from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
This species is known to aggregate over rocky reefs and sandy flats with weed growth, where they feed on algae and zooplankton. They form pairs during spawning, and their range extends throughout the Western Pacific.
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Ornate Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish are indeed found in Australia, with several species calling the country home. One such species is the Ornate Butterflyfish, or Chaetodon ornatissimus, which can be found in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region. In Australia, they are found in central to north-western Western Australia and along the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.
The Ornate Butterflyfish has a distinctive appearance, with two yellow-edged black bars on its head—one across the eyes and the other on the snout—and two black bars on the tail. They range in size from 13 to 18 cm in length, with adults typically found in pairs occupying exclusive territories, including clearwater lagoons and seaward reefs rich in coral growth. Ornate Butterflyfish are monogamous and mate for life, with spawning activities occurring at different times depending on the biome. Tropical spawning peaks in winter and early spring, while temperate spawning occurs in midsummer.
These fish are coral-eating, or corallivores, and feed exclusively on coral polyp tissue and small organisms. They have very fine hair-like teeth that enable them to pick out small prey inaccessible to most other fish. Ornate Butterflyfish are known to feed on ten different coral species, the broadest range compared to other coral-eating butterflyfish species. Their diet also includes the tentacles of feather dusters and Christmas-tree worms.
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Wrought-iron butterflyfish
The wrought-iron butterflyfish (Chaetodon daedalma) is a metallic black-coloured fish with a remarkable cross-hatched appearance. Its scales are white with subdued yellow centres, and its dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are trimmed in yellow. This butterflyfish is native to the western Pacific Ocean near central and southern Japan, and it can be found in clear and outer waters at depths exceeding 10 metres (33 feet).
With a maximum length of 15 cm, the wrought-iron butterflyfish is half the size of the world's biggest butterflyfish species, the lined butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) and the saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium), which can be found along the coasts of Australia. The wrought-iron butterflyfish is known for its playful nature and has been described as "one of the most personable butterflyfish there is." However, its restricted range makes it a rare sight in collections and in the wild.
In terms of care and maintenance, wrought-iron butterflyfish should be added to well-established aquariums with ample space to swim and plenty of rock work for grazing and hiding. They may pick at corals and crustaceans, so a diet of meaty and algae-based foods should be provided multiple times daily. They tend to be shy and peaceful but can become territorial if kept in a small aquarium.
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Vagabond Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish are indeed found in Australia. One such species is the Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, which inhabits coral reefs and lagoons, often in areas of high turbidity and freshwater influxes. This fish is usually found in pairs or small groups at depths ranging from 1 metre to 30 metres. It is distinguished by its pearly white body with multiple bold black stripes and a chevron-like pattern. The black stripes include a broad band through the eye, another through the caudal peduncle, a third through the middle of the caudal fin, and fine orange stripes across the forehead.
The Vagabond Butterflyfish is a carnivore, with a diet that includes coral polyps, anemones, polychaete worms, and algae. It is not a good reef inhabitant because it also feeds on various stony corals. However, the fish may help control nuisance Aiptasia anemones. The species is relatively large, with adults reaching approximately 9 inches (23 cm) in length.
In Australia, the Vagabond Butterflyfish is found along the northwestern coast of Western Australia, the northern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, and the southern coast of New South Wales. It is also found more broadly in the tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific, ranging from East Africa in the south to Japan in the north and east to the Tuamoto Islands.
The Vagabond Butterflyfish should be housed in an established, minimum 125-gallon aquarium with live rock and crevices to swim through and take refuge. They are sensitive to nitrite and ammonia spikes, so stable water quality is essential. Vagabond Butterflyfish can be fed a variety of frozen meaty foods, including brine shrimp, spirulina brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp, but they may initially need live brine shrimp to stimulate their appetite.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several species of butterfly fish found in Australia. Some of these include the West Australian butterflyfish, the Vagabond Butterflyfish, Gunther's Butterflyfish, and the Ornate Butterflyfish.
The West Australian butterflyfish is found along the southern and western coasts of Western Australia. Gunther's Butterflyfish is found in southern Queensland and southern New South Wales. The Vagabond Butterflyfish can be found in the Great Barrier Reef.
Butterflyfish are typically known for their vibrant colours and striking patterning. The West Australian butterflyfish, for example, has a pale silvery-brown body with a vertical dark band running through its eye. The Vagabond Butterflyfish has a white body with two series of narrow dark lines set at right angles and yellow fins.
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