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Threadfin Butterflyfish
Butterflyfish

Threadfin Butterflyfish

Chaetodon auriga

One of the most widely distributed and hardiest common Chaetodon, and a hobby staple for that reason — it acclimates and feeds readily where fussier butterflies fail. That hardiness doesn't extend to corals: adults tear at polychaetes, coral polyps, anemones and soft corals, and will also pick at ornamental shrimp, so it is not reef-safe. Territorial toward other butterflyfish, best added last to a fish-only or FOWLR system.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
9.8"
Min tank
110 gal
Reef-safe
Not reef safe
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Threadfin Butterflyfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Raccoon ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Raccoon Butterflyfish are the same genus (Chaetodon) and will fight — keep only one.Pearlscale ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Pearlscale Butterflyfish are the same genus (Chaetodon) and will fight — keep only one.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Threadfin Butterflyfish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Threadfin Butterflyfish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Threadfin Butterflyfish.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.Fire ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Fire Shrimp is on the menu.Peppermint ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Peppermint Shrimp is on the menu.Coral Banded ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Coral Banded Shrimp is on the menu.Tiger Pistol ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Tiger Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Randall's Pistol ShrimpThreadfin Butterflyfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Randall's Pistol Shrimp is on the menu.Double Saddle ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Double Saddle Butterflyfish are the same genus (Chaetodon) and will fight — keep only one.Klein's ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Klein's Butterflyfish are the same genus (Chaetodon) and will fight — keep only one.Milletseed ButterflyfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Milletseed Butterflyfish are the same genus (Chaetodon) and will fight — keep only one.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Percula ClownfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Percula Clownfish and may harass it.Maroon ClownfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Banggai CardinalfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Banggai Cardinalfish and may harass it.Pajama CardinalfishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Pajama Cardinalfish and may harass it.Green ChromisThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Chromis and may harass it.Blue DamselThreadfin Butterflyfish and Blue Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellowtail DamselThreadfin Butterflyfish and Yellowtail Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow TangThreadfin Butterflyfish and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Helfrich's FirefishThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Helfrich's Firefish and may harass it.Red Sea ClownfishThreadfin Butterflyfish and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yasha GobyThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yasha Goby and may harass it.Tailspot BlennyThreadfin Butterflyfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Tailspot Blenny and may harass it.Sailfin TangThreadfin Butterflyfish and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple TangThreadfin Butterflyfish and Purple Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Blue TangThreadfin Butterflyfish and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.