Chaetodon unimaculatus

Datasheet

General Description

Chaetodon unimaculatus, commonly known as Teardrop Butterflyfish or Teardrop Coralfish, belongs to the Chaetodontidae family. These fish are part of a group called a "complex" due to their striking resemblance, varying slightly in color and pattern. Ensuring proper identification is crucial, as some species within this complex have distinct care requirements depending on their origin.

Aquarium Suitability

Considered suitable with care, Teardrop Butterflyfish can be kept in an aquarium, but caution is advised due to their specific dietary needs. They are known for feeding on large polyp stone corals (LPS), small polyp stone corals (SPS), soft corals, sponges, tubeworms, and even anemones, posing a potential threat to certain species within the tank.

Demands, Care, and Hardiness

Teardrop Butterflyfish have average hardiness and thrive best in a well-established aquarium with ample space for swimming. They require frequent feeding, especially when newly introduced, with a diet consisting of larger crustaceans, microalgae like spirulina, small crustaceans, zooplankton, and other invertebrates to ensure their nutritional needs are met.

Reef Suitability

Not reef-safe, Teardrop Butterflyfish may pose a threat to reef inhabitants such as anemones, small crustaceans like shrimp, clams, and tubeworms. Their feeding habits make them unsuitable for a reef environment due to the potential harm they can cause to these organisms.

Aquarium Setup

To cater to the needs of Teardrop Butterflyfish, an aquarium of at least 400 liters is recommended, providing plenty of live rocks for hiding places and grazing. Maintaining a well-run tank with algae-rich surfaces is essential, ensuring they have access to natural food sources like algae, supplemented with a varied diet to support their health.

Behaviour

Teardrop Butterflyfish are mostly peaceful but can display aggression towards similar species if not kept in pairs. They are known to graze on algae from rocks and stones, requiring a diverse diet to mimic their natural feeding habits and behavioral patterns in captivity.

Feeding and Diet

Their diet should consist of live SPS or LPS corals, larger crustaceans, microalgae, zooplankton, and other small invertebrates. Feeding several times a day is necessary, especially during the acclimatization period, to ensure they receive adequate nutrition to support their well-being.

Habitat and Distribution

Found in the East Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and the Central/West Pacific regions, Teardrop Butterflyfish are native to the Indo-Pacific waters. They inhabit regions from East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, ranging from southern Japan to the Lord Howe and Rapa islands, encompassing the entirety of Micronesia.