Punctato Butterfly
Chaetodon punctatofasciatus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
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Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Omnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 70 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Punctato Butterfly (Spotband Butterflyfish) is a yellow-to-tan Chaetodon with vertical dark striping and dotted rows that become more defined as it matures. It’s a western Pacific reef species often seen cruising along rock faces and coral-rich zones.
What You’ll Observe:
- Steady, methodical swimming with frequent “inspection laps” of the rockwork
- Short, repeated pecks at surfaces as it forages throughout the day
- A routine of moving between open water and sheltered areas as it settles in
- More confident feeding when food is offered in smaller pieces and spread out
- In larger systems, it may travel alongside a companion fish for long stretches
For best results, provide a 70-gallon-or-larger aquarium with plenty of rockwork and swim room, plus calm tank mates that won’t rush it at feeding time. Offer a mixed menu of finely chopped seafood and algae-based foods, and keep portions small so they match its mouth size. In fish-only or FOWLR setups, it becomes a consistent, active forager once established.
Can I keep this species as a pair?
In larger aquariums, hobbyists often have the best results when both fish are introduced at the same time so they settle in together.
Why does it peck at rock all day even after I feed it?
That’s normal for butterflyfish behavior—much of their “day job” is constant foraging and inspecting surfaces for tiny foods.
What foods tend to work best at first?
Many keepers have better early success with very small, finely chopped items and soft frozen foods that are easy to bite off and swallow.
Will it eat nuisance anemones like majano?
Some hobbyists report Spotband Butterflyfish picking at majano, but results vary by individual fish and tank conditions.
Does it usually learn prepared foods like pellets?
It can, especially when the fish is already eating well and you introduce pellets gradually alongside frozen foods in the same feeding zone.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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