Butterflyfish

Few fish bring the grace and color of a coral reef into a home aquarium quite like the butterflyfish. With their tall, laterally compressed bodies, fanning fins, and endlessly varied patterns, these Indo-Pacific and Red Sea beauties are among the most elegant swimmers in the marine hobby. The family runs a wide range, from hardy, beginner-friendly favorites like the Kleini and the classic Auriga Threadfin, to bold showpieces like the Raccoon and Heniochus banner fish, to rare Red Sea collector's fish such as the Golden Semilarvatus and Triangle. Whether you're after a peaceful centerpiece for a fish-only display or a refined accent for a carefully planned system, there's a butterfly here to suit the tank.

A few things are worth knowing before you buy. Most butterflyfish want a mature, spacious aquarium with plenty of live rock for grazing, open swimming lanes, and stable water quality, and they reward a keeper who feeds them well and often. Reef safety varies across the group: many are best considered reef safe with caution, since they'll sample soft corals, LPS, zoanthids, and clam mantles while foraging, while the specialized coral feeders like the Triangle and Larvatus are better reserved for expert fish-only setups. Temperament is generally peaceful toward dissimilar tankmates, with a little territoriality possible toward other butterflies in tighter systems. Browse the species below for the details on size, care level, and reef compatibility, since each butterfly brings its own personality and requirements to the tank.