Butterfly fish Chaetodontidae
One of the brightest and most beautiful families of marine fishes, the calling card of coral reefs, has 10 genera and 130 species. In classical works of butterfly fish are often combined with fish-angels, are not inferior to them in beauty and brightness of color, with whom they have many common morphological features. Butterfly fish distributed mainly in the Indian and Pacific oceans, however they are found and the Atlantic, not only in tropical and subtropical and in temperate waters. All species found in the coastal strip, mainly inhabiting community of coral reefs and rocky outcrops. They are very conservative, do not make migrations and adhering to the same area in a lifetime. Live alone, not forming flocks and swarms. Are a daily way of life. These fish feed on various invertebrates, which are usually extracted from the crevices and other hideouts, to collect on the surface or reefs eat parasites from the skin of large fish.
Medium-sized fish, 7 to 30 centimeters, with high, strongly compressed laterally body. Rostral part of the head elongated into a tube, at the end of which is a small mouth. Dorsal fin undivided, stretches along the torso, sometimes has an extended front end, resembling a pen. Most characteristic of butterfly fish combination of black and yellow,meets and black with silvery and bright, red, orange and blue spots on a yellow background. A characteristic feature of these fishes is the complete absence of age-related dimorphism. Fry painted in the same way as adults, in contrast to angelfish, have the fry have a very special color.
Butterfly fish are among the most popular marine aquarium fish. Without them almost every reef aquarium. Several species of butterfly fish get along well together and with other types of coral fish. However, for the maintenance of multi-species groups requires a very large aquarium, because in small amounts they start to interfere with each other. Since these fish are quite conservative and territorial, when you check all aquarium inhabitants should be planted at the same time. Once fish are comfortable and occupy suitable sites, any newcomers become unwelcome and diligently shud.
For these fish need a large aquarium, preferably at least 300 liters. The best feeling in the reef aquariums with plenty of rocks, crevices, hiding places. Only get along with large invertebrates, small are perceived solely as a food. Water quality is an important indicator for the content of these, and many other coral fish. In captivity they feed on shrimp, brine shrimp and chopped meat shellfish.