Scientific Name: Chelmon Rostratus
Common Name: Copper Banded Butterfly, Beaked Coralfish
Location: Western Indo-Pacific
Diet: Should include such items as Marine fish, Crustacean flesh, Mysis Shrimp, meaty frozen food preparations, small shell fish that has been shelled or at least cracked open
Size: 20cm(7.5 inches)
Compatibility: will generally be safe with most Soft and most SPS corals, however some individuals my occasionally nip at them. Most will do damage to LPS corals, Yellow Polyps and Zoanthids as well as any Polychaete Worms.
Suitability: Moderate to Difficult
Minimum Tank Size: Adults will require a tank of 75 + gallons (284 liters)
Reef Safe: Reef Safe with Caution

This is a very strikingly marked member of the Butterfly Fish family. Its long pointed nose and vivid markings make this a very popular fish for the hobbyist. It is commonly seen in many LFS, however it can be a difficult fish for even the advanced hobbyist and has a dismal survival record for the most part. This will depend heavily upon on the individual in question as some will settle in and take frozen food preparations right away will other will prove to be difficult feeders from the get go refusing any and everything provided. Some of my best secrets for keeping these guys is to provide them with a copious amount of small miniature Polychaete worms (Mini Feather Dusters) and offering a couple of small black muscles/clams that have been halved and left in the shell. This is often all the temptation a difficult feeder needs. I have used this sneaky little trick not only on my fish but fellow reefers in the area that had a problem feeder as well as a couple of LFS I help out at and its worked every time. This can often buy one the time needed to coax one into taking frozen food on a regular basis making it easier for the hobbyist to successfully keep them.

This fish is Reef Safe with caution due to its propensity to nip at corals. Additionally it will often pick at all species of clams eventually killing them. Keeping this fish with corals and worse yet clams is a risky proposition and should be carefully considered before purchase. One of the best things about this fish is that it will often do an exceptional job of controlling Apitasia a pest anemone that often plague the hobbyist. As such it will almost certainly eat very closely related Yellow Polyps too! Some have also has success in CBB’s eating Flatworms keeping their numbers in check in the aquarium although I have yet to experience this.

Sexing this fish is just about impossible outside a laboratory, as there are no distinguishing differences in the sexes that visible. This fish is often belligerent to conspecifics unless it’s a mated pair. As such its best to keep one per a tank.

A tip for buying a CBB is to purchase medium sized individuals. These seem to be the most hardiest size and seem to be the most adaptable to life in the aquarium. Smaller individuals often lack the body size to survive for long if they do not eat right away as they have minimal fat reserves. Larger individuals often are more stressed during shipping and usually prove to be the most difficult at getting them to eat. They will often except nothing other than live food and can be very picky about what live food they will eat, making them the least adaptable to life in the aquarium. It is most highly recommended that one not be purchased unless the LFS will feed it a commonly available frozen food prep while you watch, before purchase.

Good luck and Happy Reefing!!!

Here is a shot of one of mine...

your image didn't show up it says attached image but no image? But very imformative I like butterflys myself but cant exactly keep them because they will eat my corals.

I have the same problem with this one so it stays in a non coral/clam tank. I just have rock and some macro algae in that tank. All the new rock that comes in goes into that tank with the CBB and gets picked clean of any Apitasia, this way any rock that goes into any other tanks that get set up will be free of this pest.

thats a good idea

very nice looking fish Ritsuko,great writeup as well.

Very nice Rit. looks very healthy and happy. Only wish I didn't have such a craving for corals.

Im hearing you on that. I have held off on one for a while becuase of my SPS/Clam Fetish...But man every tank begs for one of these gorgous fish you know? Its kinda like trying to have a reef tank without a Anenome and Clownfish or a Yellow Tang...

Isn't that true Rit.

Great write up! Very informative.