Spotband Butterflyfish

Spotband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its delicate beauty, featuring a pale body with dotted horizontal bands, a striking black eye-stripe, and a graceful, oval shape. Males typically are slightly larger and may display more intense coloration during breeding, while females and juveniles tend to be slightly smaller with subtler markings. They reach about 5 inches (13 cm) in adult size and should be housed in aquariums of at least 70 gallons.

Provide plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding, open swimming space, and gentle water flow to replicate their natural reef environment. Maintain stable water parameters with salinity around 1.020–1.025, temperature between 72–79°F (22–26°C), and pH around 8.1–8.4. A secure lid is important, as butterflyfish are known to jump when startled or stressed.

Their diet should consist of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and high-quality marine pellets, ideally supplemented with natural algae and sponge-based foods to support long-term health. With proper care and attention, the Spotband Butterflyfish makes a stunning and graceful addition to a peaceful marine aquarium.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin