Longnose Butterflyfish care guide
Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) — minimum tank 300 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Overview
The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) reaches about 22 cm and is one of the more widely distributed of all reef fishes. The body is bright yellow with a black triangular forehead and pure white lower face, and a long, slender tubular snout used for picking food from coral crevices.
Taxonomy
- Family: Chaetodontidae
- Genus: Forcipiger
- Scientific name: Forcipiger flavissimus
- Common synonyms: Forceps Butterflyfish
Habitat
Distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific and into the Eastern Pacific from Mexico to Ecuador — one of the broadest ranges of any reef fish. The species inhabits coral-rich outer reefs and reef passes from 2 to 145 m depth.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L (79.3 US gal)
- Adult size: 18-22 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
Diet
An invertebrate-feeding omnivore that picks at tube-feet of small worms, crustaceans and especially the appendages of long-spined sea urchins. In aquaria it is usually one of the more readily adapting butterflyfish, accepting mysis, enriched brine shrimp, krill and chopped mussel within days.
Compatibility
Peaceful for a butterfly; pairs or single specimens can be kept and may also be combined with the similar but more demanding F. longirostris. Compatible with peaceful marine community fish — tangs, smaller angels, gobies, cardinals and clownfish.
Reef compatibility
Reef-safe with caution. The species generally ignores stony corals but may nip feather-duster worms, soft coral polyps, anemone tentacles and sometimes tubeworm crowns. One of the most reef-tolerant Chaetodontidae but not entirely risk-free.
Breeding
A pelagic broadcast spawner forming temporary pairs. Captive breeding has not been achieved at a commercial scale.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The exceptionally wide geographic range and pelagic larval phase support a stable global population.