Scrawled Butterfly
Chaetodon meyeri
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
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 | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 180 gallons |
| Max Size | 8 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Scrawled Butterfly (Chaetodon meyeri), also called Meyer’s or the Maypole Butterflyfish, has a bluish-white body marked with curved and diagonal black bars, with yellow edging on the eye band and snout. Found across Indo-Pacific coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs, it reaches about 8 inches as an adult.
What You’ll Observe:
- Cruises the rockwork and branching structures in short, looping routes.
- Makes frequent, deliberate pecks at surfaces throughout the day.
- Learns the feeding spot quickly and returns at meal times.
- Often stays close to a chosen section of the aquascape as its home range.
Provide a mature, stable aquarium with extensive live rock and open swim lanes so it can browse naturally between feedings. Offer small meaty foods several times daily, and use a feeding clip or a clean coral skeleton/rock crevice to present foods in a way that encourages picking. Maintain a calm community and consistent feeding routine to support steady long-term feeding behavior.
How do hobbyists get a new Scrawled Butterfly to start eating prepared foods?
Many start with live or fresh foods first, then mix in frozen foods once it’s pecking confidently. Presenting food pressed into a rock crevice is a common way to trigger natural picking.
Is constant “pecking” at rockwork normal for this species?
Yes—this fish is naturally oriented toward browsing and sampling surfaces throughout the day, even between meals.
What foods tend to keep its attention once it’s eating reliably?
A rotation of mysis, finely chopped shrimp/squid, clam, and other crustacean-based frozen blends helps keep feeding response consistent.
Do hobbyists use a feeding station with this fish?
Often yes—using the same clip/spot helps the fish “check in” for meals and reduces missed feedings in larger displays.
How can you reduce food competition at feeding time?
Many keepers spread food across multiple small portions and multiple locations so the fish can feed in its usual route without rushing.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
Recently viewed products
