Copperband Butterflyfish

Copperband Butterflyfish

Chelmon rostratus

Also known as: Beaked Coralfish

🧂 Saltwater ✌️ Peaceful 🔴 Advanced 🥩 Carnivore Reef Safe (Caution)

Stunning silver body with copper-orange vertical bands and a long snout used for picking food from crevices. An Aiptasia eater.

Tank Size

75 gal
minimum (125+ preferred)

Temperature

74–82°F
23–28°C

pH Range

8–8.4
water acidity

Max Size

8"
20.3 cm

Lifespan

5–10 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

All
preferred zone

Care Notes

Difficult to keep — many refuse prepared foods. Prized for eating Aiptasia pest anemones. Needs an established, peaceful tank.

Feeding

Aiptasia, frozen mysis, clams, and enriched brine shrimp. Often difficult to wean onto prepared foods.

Compatible Tank Mates

Blue Green Chromis 3" Pink Skunk Clownfish 3.5" Skunk Clownfish 4" Orange Skunk Clownfish 4.5" Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse 3" Melanurus Wrasse 5" Cleaner Wrasse 4" Yellow Coris Wrasse 5" Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse 3" Firefish Goby 3" Yellow Watchman Goby 4" Diamond Goby 6"

Use Caution With

Ocellaris Clownfish 3" True Percula Clownfish 3" Yellowtail Damselfish 2.5" Blue Tang 12" Yellow Tang 8" Kole Tang 7" Clarkii Clownfish 5" Tomato Clownfish 5" Scopas Tang 8" Naso Tang 18" Convict Tang 8" Azure Damselfish 2.5"

Incompatible With

Maroon Clownfish 6" Blue Devil Damselfish 3" Powder Blue Tang 9" Achilles Tang 10" Purple Tang 10" Three Stripe Damselfish 3" Domino Damselfish 5" Four Stripe Damselfish 3" Jewel Damselfish 6" Clown Tang 15" Green Clown Goby 1.5" Catalina Goby 2.5"

Check Compatibility

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