Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris) Care Guide
Forcipiger longirostris is an Indo-Pacific butterflyfish with an exceptionally long snout adapted for picking small crustaceans from reef crevices.
Overview
Forcipiger longirostris is a marine butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae described by Broussonet in 1782. It has a compressed yellow body, a black triangular region on the head, and an elongated silvery snout used for precision feeding. Rare colour variants are entirely black or brown rather than yellow.
Taxonomy
- Family: Chaetodontidae
- Genus: Forcipiger
- Scientific name: Forcipiger longirostris (Broussonet, 1782)
Habitat
The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Pitcairn islands, north to the Bonin Islands and south to New Caledonia. FishBase describes it as a generally uncommon inhabitant of seaward reefs, recorded at depths of 0 to 200 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °dKH
- Adult size: 18-22 cm (max 22 cm TL)
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
Forcipiger longirostris feeds mainly on whole small organisms such as small crustaceans, the tube feet of echinoderms and sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles. Its long snout enables it to extract small prey from reef crevices, making it a comparatively specialised feeder.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful and mid-water swimming, usually observed in pairs. Because it does not graze coral polyps it is generally considered reef-compatible. Suitable companions include tangs, wrasses and other large peaceful fish; aggressive triggerfish should be avoided.
Breeding
Forcipiger longirostris is oviparous and monogamous with distinct pairing. Captive breeding is not commonly achieved.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009).