Red Sea Eritrean Butterflyfish

[Speedster 110]

Does anyone keep a Red Sea Eritrean Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus)? Are they difficult to keep? I've been looking for one for close to a year. I'm not sure why they're so hard to find.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Does anyone keep a Red Sea Eritrean Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus)? Are they difficult to keep? I've been looking for one for close to a year. I'm not sure why they're so hard to find.

I've had a few of these, but it's been many years. I've found them to be quite hardy, but a little scrappy. Not sure why they are hard to find now, but Red Sea fish supplies have historically been unreliable; one region opens to collection, then it closes, and another opens up a few years later. Most Red Sea fish get diverted to Europe. Most US importers are in California, and that's a LONG haul from the Red Sea. Back in the day, lots of Red Sea fish would come in to New York, but there are only a couple of importers working there (Emark is one). There is an exporter in Kenya that orders Red Sea fish and resells them, but again, mostly to Europe.

 

[Speedster 110]

I've had a few of these, but it's been many years. I've found them to be quite hardy, but a little scrappy. Not sure why they are hard to find now, but Red Sea fish supplies have historically been unreliable; one region opens to collection, then it closes, and another opens up a few years later. Most Red Sea fish get diverted to Europe. Most US importers are in California, and that's a LONG haul from the Red Sea. Back in the day, lots of Red Sea fish would come in to New York, but there are only a couple of importers working there (Emark is one). There is an exporter in Kenya that orders Red Sea fish and resells them, but again, mostly to Europe.

Thank you for insight! It's driving me crazy. Many online retailers have them listed, but not available.