Oval Butterfly - Chaetodon Lunulatus
Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)
The Oval Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunulatus, is a beautiful Pacific butterflyfish with a rounded, laterally compressed body, fine diagonal striping, warm yellow-orange tones and reddish-orange fin highlights. Also known as the Redfin Butterflyfish or Red-finned Butterflyfish, this species is found on coral-rich reefs across the Pacific Ocean. It is an attractive but highly specialist marine fish, best suited to expert aquarists because it is strongly associated with live coral feeding in the wild and is not a reliable choice for standard community or reef aquariums.
Common Name:
Oval Butterflyfish, Oval Butterfly, Redfin Butterflyfish, Red-finned Butterflyfish, Pinstripe Butterflyfish.
Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon lunulatus
Maximum Size:
Up to around 26.7 cm in the wild. Aquarium specimens may be smaller, but this species should still be planned for as a large, active butterflyfish with specialist feeding needs.
Water Type:
Marine
Origin / Natural Habitat:
Pacific Ocean, widespread from Japan and Australia eastwards through the central Pacific to the Tuamotu Islands and Hawaii. It inhabits tropical coral reefs from very shallow water down to around 60 m, especially coastal coral-rich areas. Juveniles are often associated with branching corals in lagoon habitats, while adults are commonly seen in pairs on coral reefs.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.020–1.025
Temperament:
Generally peaceful towards unrelated fish, but not a simple community species. It may be shy, slow to settle and difficult to maintain long term. It can show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish, especially in smaller aquariums, and should not be kept with aggressive or highly competitive tank mates.
Diet:
Specialist corallivore. In the wild, Chaetodon lunulatus feeds heavily, and in many records exclusively, on live coral polyps. This makes it extremely difficult to provide a complete replacement diet in the home aquarium. Some individuals may investigate finely chopped marine foods, mysis, clam, mussel or specialist frozen preparations, but prepared-food acceptance should never be assumed.
Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 500 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums strongly preferred. The aquarium should be mature, very stable and spacious, with extensive rockwork, excellent water quality and low feeding competition.
Behaviour & Activity:
A graceful, active butterflyfish that spends much of its day moving across reef structure and picking at coral surfaces. In nature it is often found as a pair, while juveniles shelter among coral branches. In aquariums it may become withdrawn if kept with boisterous fish or if insufficient natural grazing opportunities are available. It needs open swimming room, secure hiding spaces and a calm environment.
Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe
This species naturally feeds on live coral polyps and is expected to damage stony corals. It is not suitable for coral display aquariums unless the keeper is intentionally maintaining it in a specialist system where coral feeding is part of the care plan. It may also investigate other sessile invertebrates.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Expert-only marine fish due to its specialised coral-based diet and poor reliability on substitute foods. It should not be bought as a general ornamental butterflyfish unless its feeding requirements can be met. Avoid thin or reluctant-feeding specimens. Best reserved for advanced public-aquarium-style systems, expert specialist keepers or carefully managed non-reef marine aquariums where long-term nutritional needs have been fully considered. Do not confuse this Pacific species with similar Indian Ocean or Red Sea relatives, such as Chaetodon trifasciatus or Chaetodon austriacus.
Suitable for:
Expert only
Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
Original: $73.99
-65%$73.99
$25.90
Description
Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)
The Oval Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunulatus, is a beautiful Pacific butterflyfish with a rounded, laterally compressed body, fine diagonal striping, warm yellow-orange tones and reddish-orange fin highlights. Also known as the Redfin Butterflyfish or Red-finned Butterflyfish, this species is found on coral-rich reefs across the Pacific Ocean. It is an attractive but highly specialist marine fish, best suited to expert aquarists because it is strongly associated with live coral feeding in the wild and is not a reliable choice for standard community or reef aquariums.
Common Name:
Oval Butterflyfish, Oval Butterfly, Redfin Butterflyfish, Red-finned Butterflyfish, Pinstripe Butterflyfish.
Scientific Name (Latin):
Chaetodon lunulatus
Maximum Size:
Up to around 26.7 cm in the wild. Aquarium specimens may be smaller, but this species should still be planned for as a large, active butterflyfish with specialist feeding needs.
Water Type:
Marine
Origin / Natural Habitat:
Pacific Ocean, widespread from Japan and Australia eastwards through the central Pacific to the Tuamotu Islands and Hawaii. It inhabits tropical coral reefs from very shallow water down to around 60 m, especially coastal coral-rich areas. Juveniles are often associated with branching corals in lagoon habitats, while adults are commonly seen in pairs on coral reefs.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.020–1.025
Temperament:
Generally peaceful towards unrelated fish, but not a simple community species. It may be shy, slow to settle and difficult to maintain long term. It can show territorial behaviour towards similar butterflyfish, especially in smaller aquariums, and should not be kept with aggressive or highly competitive tank mates.
Diet:
Specialist corallivore. In the wild, Chaetodon lunulatus feeds heavily, and in many records exclusively, on live coral polyps. This makes it extremely difficult to provide a complete replacement diet in the home aquarium. Some individuals may investigate finely chopped marine foods, mysis, clam, mussel or specialist frozen preparations, but prepared-food acceptance should never be assumed.
Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 500 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums strongly preferred. The aquarium should be mature, very stable and spacious, with extensive rockwork, excellent water quality and low feeding competition.
Behaviour & Activity:
A graceful, active butterflyfish that spends much of its day moving across reef structure and picking at coral surfaces. In nature it is often found as a pair, while juveniles shelter among coral branches. In aquariums it may become withdrawn if kept with boisterous fish or if insufficient natural grazing opportunities are available. It needs open swimming room, secure hiding spaces and a calm environment.
Reef Safe:
Not Reef Safe
This species naturally feeds on live coral polyps and is expected to damage stony corals. It is not suitable for coral display aquariums unless the keeper is intentionally maintaining it in a specialist system where coral feeding is part of the care plan. It may also investigate other sessile invertebrates.
Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Expert-only marine fish due to its specialised coral-based diet and poor reliability on substitute foods. It should not be bought as a general ornamental butterflyfish unless its feeding requirements can be met. Avoid thin or reluctant-feeding specimens. Best reserved for advanced public-aquarium-style systems, expert specialist keepers or carefully managed non-reef marine aquariums where long-term nutritional needs have been fully considered. Do not confuse this Pacific species with similar Indian Ocean or Red Sea relatives, such as Chaetodon trifasciatus or Chaetodon austriacus.
Suitable for:
Expert only
Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade
All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.
