Common Name African Butterfly

Other Common Names Butterfly Fish

Scientific Name Pantodon buchholzi

Family Pantodontidae

Community Semi-Aggressive

Class South American

Temperature 78 ºF

Swimming Range Top

Adult Length 4-5 inches

Feeding Habits Prefers live brine shrimp, blood worms, crickets, glass worms, small fish and tubifex worms. Frozen plankton, beef heart, blood worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, glass worms and hi-pro. Freeze dried, flake and pellet foods are also accepted.

Compatibility Peaceful with other fish of equal size, but will eat smaller fish.

Habitat Africa: Moderately decorate with live plants, rocks and driftwood. Leave lots of swimming space on the surface. A few live floating plants are recommended to provide cover. Breeding The wing span of the male is larger and the anal fin is indented while the females has a straight edge. Spawning can produce up to 200 eggs, and fry hatch in 36 hours.

Additional Comments Butterflies must be kept in a covered tank as they will leap out of the water for food. In the wild they skim the surface of the water at lengths of six feet at a time.