Black Pyramid Butterfly
Hemitaurichthys zoster
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
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 | With Caution |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 120 gallons |
| Max Size | 8 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
Black Pyramid Butterfly (Hemitaurichthys zoster), also sold as the Zoster Butterflyfish, has a dark body with a broad white vertical band and small yellow accents in the dorsal fin. It’s an open-water, plankton-feeding butterflyfish that spends most of the day cruising the water column in the current.
What You’ll Observe:
- Smooth, constant laps through the midwater and front of the tank, with short pauses near the rockwork
- At feeding time, it rises into higher flow and grabs small foods as they drift past
- In pairs or small groups, individuals often track each other and follow similar “routes” around the tank
- A predictable day-night routine where it’s most visible during lights-on hours
Provide a large, open aquascape with strong circulation and several caves/overhangs so it can move between open water and cover; a 125-gallon-style footprint or larger works well. Offer a variety of small, plankton-sized foods throughout the day (frozen mixes plus prepared foods) to keep it focused on the water column.
Will this butterflyfish actually form a school in an aquarium?
In home tanks they usually cruise in a loose group rather than a tight “bait ball”; the more individuals introduced together (and the more open swimming room you provide), the more coordinated they tend to look.
Do Black Pyramid (zoster) and Yellow Pyramid (polylepis) butterflyfish mix well?
Many hobbyists report mixed groups coexist peacefully, and the combination can look very natural in a reef display.
Why do some people buy Pyramid/Zoster butterflies for Xenia?
Some keepers report certain individuals will graze pulsing Xenia, while others ignore it; consistent feeding is commonly mentioned as the key to keeping their attention on drifting foods.
Do they accept pellets and flakes, or do they need frozen foods only?
A common experience is that they start quickest on frozen foods and then transition onto pellets/flake once they recognize the feeding schedule.
How long does it take for a new Zoster Butterflyfish to use the whole tank?
Keepers often describe a first phase of staying closer to rockwork, followed by gradually extending into open water as it learns the tank’s “feeding lanes.”
Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.
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