Falcula Butterfly - Chaetodon falcula
Falcula Butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula)
The Falcula Butterflyfish is a striking Indian Ocean butterflyfish with a bright white body, yellow dorsal and rear fin areas, fine vertical striping and two bold black wedge-shaped markings across the upper body. Also known as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish or Saddleback Butterflyfish, it is an elegant and active marine fish best suited to a spacious, mature fish-only or FOWLR-style aquarium. Although beautiful, it is not considered reliably reef safe, as its natural diet includes coral polyps and other reef invertebrates.
Common Name:
Falcula Butterflyfish. Also commonly referred to as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish, Saddleback Butterflyfish, Black-wedged Butterflyfish or Falcula Butterfly.
Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon falcula
Maximum Size:
Up to around 20 cm, making it a medium-sized butterflyfish that needs good swimming space.
Water Type:
Marine.
Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found across the Indian Ocean, from East Africa and Madagascar through to parts of the eastern Indian Ocean and Indonesia. In the wild it is usually found on reef edges, upper reef slopes, lagoons and current-prone reef areas, often singly, in pairs or in small groups.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG
Temperament:
Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive. It is usually suitable with other robust marine fish, but may show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish or closely shaped competitors, especially in smaller aquariums.
Diet:
Omnivorous / invertebrate feeder. In the wild it feeds on coral polyps, worms, crustaceans, sponges and other benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium it should be offered a varied diet including frozen mysis, brineshrimp, krill, chopped clam, mussel, cockle, prawn, squid, quality marine pellets and occasional algae or spirulina-based foods. New specimens may need small frequent feeds while settling.
Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 450–500 litres for a single adult, with larger aquariums preferred due to its adult size and active swimming behaviour.
Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active reef-associated fish that spends much of the day swimming, browsing rockwork and searching for small foods. It benefits from a spacious aquarium with open swimming areas, mature live rock, shaded retreats and moderate to strong water movement. It may be kept singly, and in very large systems experienced keepers may keep compatible pairs or carefully selected groups.
Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe
This species is not recommended for reef aquariums. It may nip or eat LPS corals, soft corals, coral polyps, tube worms, anemones, clams and other sessile invertebrates. It is much better suited to fish-only marine aquariums or FOWLR systems where coral and invertebrate damage is not a concern.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, stable marine aquarium with excellent filtration, strong oxygenation and plenty of live rock. Like many butterflyfish, it may be delicate during import and can be slow to accept prepared foods, so careful acclimation, quarantine and varied feeding are important. Avoid adding to brand-new marine systems or aggressive predator tanks where it may be bullied.
Suitable for:
Intermediate to experienced marine fishkeepers
Availability:
Occasional in trade
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
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Falcula Butterfly - Chaetodon falcula
Falcula Butterfly - Chaetodon falcula
Falcula Butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula)
The Falcula Butterflyfish is a striking Indian Ocean butterflyfish with a bright white body, yellow dorsal and rear fin areas, fine vertical striping and two bold black wedge-shaped markings across the upper body. Also known as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish or Saddleback Butterflyfish, it is an elegant and active marine fish best suited to a spacious, mature fish-only or FOWLR-style aquarium. Although beautiful, it is not considered reliably reef safe, as its natural diet includes coral polyps and other reef invertebrates.
Common Name:
Falcula Butterflyfish. Also commonly referred to as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish, Saddleback Butterflyfish, Black-wedged Butterflyfish or Falcula Butterfly.
Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon falcula
Maximum Size:
Up to around 20 cm, making it a medium-sized butterflyfish that needs good swimming space.
Water Type:
Marine.
Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found across the Indian Ocean, from East Africa and Madagascar through to parts of the eastern Indian Ocean and Indonesia. In the wild it is usually found on reef edges, upper reef slopes, lagoons and current-prone reef areas, often singly, in pairs or in small groups.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG
Temperament:
Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive. It is usually suitable with other robust marine fish, but may show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish or closely shaped competitors, especially in smaller aquariums.
Diet:
Omnivorous / invertebrate feeder. In the wild it feeds on coral polyps, worms, crustaceans, sponges and other benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium it should be offered a varied diet including frozen mysis, brineshrimp, krill, chopped clam, mussel, cockle, prawn, squid, quality marine pellets and occasional algae or spirulina-based foods. New specimens may need small frequent feeds while settling.
Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 450–500 litres for a single adult, with larger aquariums preferred due to its adult size and active swimming behaviour.
Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active reef-associated fish that spends much of the day swimming, browsing rockwork and searching for small foods. It benefits from a spacious aquarium with open swimming areas, mature live rock, shaded retreats and moderate to strong water movement. It may be kept singly, and in very large systems experienced keepers may keep compatible pairs or carefully selected groups.
Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe
This species is not recommended for reef aquariums. It may nip or eat LPS corals, soft corals, coral polyps, tube worms, anemones, clams and other sessile invertebrates. It is much better suited to fish-only marine aquariums or FOWLR systems where coral and invertebrate damage is not a concern.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, stable marine aquarium with excellent filtration, strong oxygenation and plenty of live rock. Like many butterflyfish, it may be delicate during import and can be slow to accept prepared foods, so careful acclimation, quarantine and varied feeding are important. Avoid adding to brand-new marine systems or aggressive predator tanks where it may be bullied.
Suitable for:
Intermediate to experienced marine fishkeepers
Availability:
Occasional in trade
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
Original: $61.00
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$21.35Product Information
Product Information
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Description
Falcula Butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula)
The Falcula Butterflyfish is a striking Indian Ocean butterflyfish with a bright white body, yellow dorsal and rear fin areas, fine vertical striping and two bold black wedge-shaped markings across the upper body. Also known as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish or Saddleback Butterflyfish, it is an elegant and active marine fish best suited to a spacious, mature fish-only or FOWLR-style aquarium. Although beautiful, it is not considered reliably reef safe, as its natural diet includes coral polyps and other reef invertebrates.
Common Name:
Falcula Butterflyfish. Also commonly referred to as the Blackwedged Butterflyfish, Saddleback Butterflyfish, Black-wedged Butterflyfish or Falcula Butterfly.
Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon falcula
Maximum Size:
Up to around 20 cm, making it a medium-sized butterflyfish that needs good swimming space.
Water Type:
Marine.
Origin / Natural Habitat:
Found across the Indian Ocean, from East Africa and Madagascar through to parts of the eastern Indian Ocean and Indonesia. In the wild it is usually found on reef edges, upper reef slopes, lagoons and current-prone reef areas, often singly, in pairs or in small groups.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025 SG
Temperament:
Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive. It is usually suitable with other robust marine fish, but may show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish or closely shaped competitors, especially in smaller aquariums.
Diet:
Omnivorous / invertebrate feeder. In the wild it feeds on coral polyps, worms, crustaceans, sponges and other benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium it should be offered a varied diet including frozen mysis, brineshrimp, krill, chopped clam, mussel, cockle, prawn, squid, quality marine pellets and occasional algae or spirulina-based foods. New specimens may need small frequent feeds while settling.
Minimum Tank Size:
A practical recommendation is at least 450–500 litres for a single adult, with larger aquariums preferred due to its adult size and active swimming behaviour.
Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active reef-associated fish that spends much of the day swimming, browsing rockwork and searching for small foods. It benefits from a spacious aquarium with open swimming areas, mature live rock, shaded retreats and moderate to strong water movement. It may be kept singly, and in very large systems experienced keepers may keep compatible pairs or carefully selected groups.
Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe
This species is not recommended for reef aquariums. It may nip or eat LPS corals, soft corals, coral polyps, tube worms, anemones, clams and other sessile invertebrates. It is much better suited to fish-only marine aquariums or FOWLR systems where coral and invertebrate damage is not a concern.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature, stable marine aquarium with excellent filtration, strong oxygenation and plenty of live rock. Like many butterflyfish, it may be delicate during import and can be slow to accept prepared foods, so careful acclimation, quarantine and varied feeding are important. Avoid adding to brand-new marine systems or aggressive predator tanks where it may be bullied.
Suitable for:
Intermediate to experienced marine fishkeepers
Availability:
Occasional in trade
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
