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Copperband butterflyfish, photographed on a transparent background

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Copperband butterflyfish

Chelmon rostratus

Nose tipped down, it probes cracks in the rock with a long beak.

The Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) is a tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. It lives on and around reefs, between 1 and 25 m deep. Adults grow to about 15 cm; the largest on record measured 20 cm (total length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 150 cm long and water at 23–27 °C.

Size
15 cm
Smallest tank
150 cm
Temperature
23–27 °C
Care
Demanding

In the aquarium

Temperature23–27 °C
pH7.8–8.5
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Calm
Water layer
Mid water
Group
Lives on its own
Coral
Nips corals
Drawn to scale in a 150 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litresToo small
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litresToo small
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres29 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres54 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres65 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Marine
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Coral and rocky reefs
Largest on record
20 cmtotal length
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Depth

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderAcanthuriformes
  2. FamilyChaetodontidae
  3. GenusChelmon
  4. SpeciesChelmon rostratus

In other languages

German
Kupferstreifen-Pinzettfisch
Spanish
Pez mariposa con bandas de cobre
French
Chelmon à bandes cuivrées
Italian
Pesce farfalla dal rostro
Russian
Длиннорылая рыба-бабочка
Japanese
ハシナガチョウチョウウオ
Chinese
長吻管嘴魚(鑽嘴魚, 短火箭)

Quick answers

Copperband butterflyfish size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 15 cm. The largest on record measured 20 cm (total length). Record sizes among the 51 Chaetodontidae species on LumaReef: 12 cm (Spotted Butterflyfish) to 30 cm (Saddle Butterflyfish).
Copperband butterflyfish tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 150 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Living room tank or larger.
Copperband butterflyfish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–27 °C, pH 7.8–8.5. Close to what most Chaetodontidae on LumaReef need (23–27 °C).
Copperband butterflyfish tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 89 of the 99 reef species in the catalogue, such as Longnose butterflyfish, Kole tang, and Pyramid butterflyfish.
Copperband butterflyfish: alone or in a group?
It can be kept on its own.
Copperband butterflyfish and corals: is it reef safe?
No, it may nip at corals.
Copperband butterflyfish depth: how deep does it live?
In the wild, 1 to 25 m down. Shallower than most Chaetodontidae on LumaReef (1–40 m).

All Chaetodontidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Copperband butterflyfish: compiled from these references.