Bluespot Butterfly
Chaetodon plebeius
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2.25 - 3.5" - Central Pacific | Original price was: $147.99.$77.99Current price is: $77.99. | Email me |
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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 | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Max Size | 6 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Bluespot Butterfly (Chaetodon plebeius), also called the blueblotch or bluedash butterflyfish, has a yellow body with fine darker striping, a dark eye band, and a blue blotch high on the flank. It tops out around 6 inches and is most often chosen for fish-only-with-live-rock displays where you can watch its constant foraging behavior.
What You’ll Observe:
- Daytime cruising with frequent “pecking” at rockwork as it searches for tiny bites
- Short, repeated inspection loops—returning to the same sections of the tank throughout the day
- Most feeding activity happens in quick bursts, then it goes back to grazing behavior
- As it matures, more blue dash markings can show more clearly along the body
Provide open swimming room plus plenty of established rockwork to explore, and feed small meaty foods multiple times per day so it can settle into a steady routine. Many keepers start with highly tempting items (like clam or enriched live foods) and then transition to frozen meaty options once it’s eating consistently.
Will it usually take flakes or pellets once it’s settled?
Some hobbyists report success after it’s fully adjusted, but most start with frozen/meaty foods first and add dry foods later as a supplement.
Can I keep two Bluespot Butterflyfish together?
It’s sometimes done in larger systems when both are introduced at the same time, and when there’s enough space for each fish to establish its own routine.
Is it normal for it to “pace” certain routes in the tank?
Yes—many butterflyfish run predictable circuits, revisiting the same rock faces and crevices as part of their daily foraging pattern.
What’s a practical way to keep food available without overfeeding the whole tank?
Using a feeding clip or a “feeding station” area on the rockwork helps concentrate offerings where the fish already likes to browse, so it can take repeated bites over time.
We source from vetted suppliers known for healthy, long-lived specimens.
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