Sunburst Butterflyfish

Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleini) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its warm golden-yellow body, faint vertical striping, and a distinctive dark eye stripe that enhances its subtle but elegant appearance. Males typically may exhibit slightly brighter coloration and more defined markings during mating displays, while females/juveniles look similar but are usually a bit smaller and less vibrant in color. They reach about 6 inches in adult size and should be housed in aquariums of at least 70 gallons.

Provide plenty of live rock for grazing, hiding spots, and open swimming space to support natural behavior. Maintain stable water parameters: salinity around 1.020–1.025, temperature between 72–79°F, and pH around 8.1–8.4. A secure lid is important, as butterflyfish can be prone to jumping.

Diet should consist of frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, high-quality marine pellets, and algae-based foods. In the wild, they often feed on soft corals and polyps, so caution is advised in reef tanks. With proper care and a suitable environment, the Sunburst Butterflyfish makes a graceful and hardy 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.