Yellowhead butterfly

[GoldeneyeRet]

Chaetodon xanthocephalus,

I saw one in a reef tank today, way prettier than I thought it would be based on photos.

Info on them?

 

[cracker]

I think these fish are also called Pyramid butterfly. Nice fish ! Iv'e been considering 2 myself.

 

[falconut]

Pyramid butterfly is a different fish. Here is some limited info on the yellowhead:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAVegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw2AkuxrC9Q3cbm0ul4zSyPM

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Anyone here kept one? I'm wondering about difficulty, what corals might be vulnerable etc.

The guy who had the one I saw said his has been an occasional nipper but he once had another that ate sps. He also has a saddleback and thinks they are similar.

Certainly a beautiful fish...

 

[Gareth elliott]

Never kept one, but based on a few facts will lean coral eater.

Most shallow water Chaetodon are polyp eaters. These live 6-30 meters

The mouth shape also matches coralivore speices. Would assume sps and lps would both be on the menu.

More expensive but similarly beautiful, deep water Chaetodon are a better fit as a group, like Chaetodon tinkeri. Still a chance will nip polyps, but greater chance it wont be lethal and be able to feed them other foods as well to limit damage.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

The shape is what I noticed as well, it does look similar the the obligate corallivores.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

They are closely related to the saddle back butterflyfish chaetodon ephippium from what I remember when researching them and there care is practically similar

 

[ReefTeacher]

I had a yellow head in a soft coral reef. He was beautiful and hardy once he started eating. I found blackworms and scallop from the grocery store to be the key for mine. The close relation with the saddleback is not to be ignored: I tried to introduce a saddle back to the tank. The yellow head terrorized it; it would not let the saddleback out to eat. Otherwise he was fine with other butterflies, soft corals, and montipora. I do not know how they would be with LPS.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

That's good news, Ive been considering a saddleback for my reef. I'll consider these as well.

Thanks all!