Auriga Butterflyfish
Common Names: Auriga Butterflyfish, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Cross-Stripe Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chaetodon auriga
Family: Chaetodontidae
Maximum Size: 9 inches
Life expectancy: 5 years
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72-78 °F
pH Range: 8.2 - 8.4
SG: 1.021 - 1.023
Water hardness: 8 - 12
Temperament: Peaceful
Origin: Fiji, Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Maldives, Tonga
Aquarium Setup:
Auriga Butterflyfish are bold swimmers and need lots of room to move around. They’re also shy and should have plenty of hiding places such as caves and crevices.
They prefer a sandy bottom and aren’t reef compatible as they will eat most types of invertebrates and corals. This species is very sensitive to low levels of ammonia in the water, but are normally a healthy breed if the water quality is maintained.
Diet:
Auriga’s need a vitamin enriched diet of marine fish. They can be fed crustaceans, shrimp, mollusks and any flake or frozen foods containing algae. Supplements can be given like broccoli and asparagus.
Feedings should be done three times daily in smaller amounts. And, since Butterflyfish have such small mouths, food needs to be chopped finely for them to be able to eat it.
Tank Mates/Community:
These can be kept with species of similar temperaments and sizes, but not of the same colors as they will probably fight. Suitable tank mates can include Wrasse, Tangs, Hawkfish and Triggers.
Keep in mind that fish have individual personalities. Each Butterflyfish may not get along with the same fish of other species. Any fish tanked together should be watched for aggression towards each other.
Behavior:
Auriga’s can be tanked with members of their own species, however they may not get along very well with other males. Best kept with other peaceful or mildly aggressive fish, they will need a large tank to have their own territories.
It’s best to introduce Auriga’s to the tank at the same time, they tend to get along better. They will form mated pairs, but may chase any other fish that are the same colors, sizes or have the same appearance.
Color:
These vividly colored fish can add a stunning splash of color to an aquarium. Their oval shaped bodies are compressed and are white, black and bright yellow.
The Auriga’s have a black band that runs from the top of their heads and ends at the jaw, covering the eye. The back of their bodies are vivid yellow with an eye spot at the top of the dorsal fin.
They have perpendicular bands that run up and down on snow white front bodies. These bands may or may not be lined with black. And, they have an elongated nose that they use to dig in corals and substrate for foods.
Breeding:
Auriga Butterflyfish are very monogamous, they will choose a mate and remain with the same partner for years. Breeding in captivity is quite difficult, the fry go through a metamorphosis that increases mortality rate.
They can breed all year long and will spawn frequently. Eggs are released into water columns and externally fertilized. The eggs float in the water columns for around 30 days before morphing into plankton and spending another 40 days floating in the column.
Hundreds of thousands of eggs can be released during each spawning. There’s very little information known about their breeding and parenting habits since they are so difficult to breed. But, it’s suspected that once the eggs are released there’s no further parenting or protection from the parents.
Interesting Notes:
When first introduced to the tank, the Auriga Butterflyfish may refuse to eat. If this continues or three days or more, try offering them live foods. If they still refuse to eat, soaking their food in garlic can sometimes coax them into eating it!
Butterflyfish have very small mouths and their teeth are flexible! As they age a long, trailing filament will begin to grow from their dorsal fin that can grow up to 8 inches long.
