Freshwater butterflyfish are found in the slightly acidic standing bodies of water in West Africa.
They require a year round temperature of 73-86°F. Butterflyfish are found in slow to no current
areas with high amounts of surface foliage for cover. They are commonly seen in Lake Chad,
the Congo Basin, throughout Lower Niger, Cameroon, Ogooue, and Upper Zambezi.
They have also been seen in the Niger Delta, Lower Ogun, and in the Lower Cross River.
The freshwater butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter.
It is able to breathe air due to its well-vascularized swim bladder.
Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth
is specifically adapted to capture small prey along the water's surface.
If enough speed is built up in the water,
a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance
above the surface to avoid predation.
It also wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides,
with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles,
the ability which earned the fish its common name.
Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons.
A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits.
During feeding times special care should be taken as then they are most likely
to jump and injure themselves outside the water.
This holds true not only for moving foods but for
flakes and any other types of food disturbing the water surface.
They also prefer a tank with live plants,
especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce stress.
Because they are carnivorous, the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of moths,
insects, small fish, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other types of meaty foods.
Freeze dried tubiflex squares can be stuck on the side of a tank at water level,
which they will find and eat.
Occasionally they will eat flake food, but cannot subsist on it.
In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches.
The butterflyfish should not be kept with fin-eating or aggressive fishes.
They have been bred in the home Aquaria. Lowering the water to only a couple of inches in depth for a few weeks
and then refilling the tank with fresh soft acidic water and raising the temperature can stimulate spawning.
Spawning is preceded by the male chasing the female and actually raising himself on top of her.
The eggs when laid are clear and after about ten hours turn very dark and float to the surface.
The butterfly fish spawn over many days so the eggs should be removed with a spoon to a separate tank with identical water conditions.
They hatch in about two days and the young are difficult to raise accepting only the smallest of live food.
They require a year round temperature of 73-86°F. Butterflyfish are found in slow to no current
areas with high amounts of surface foliage for cover. They are commonly seen in Lake Chad,
the Congo Basin, throughout Lower Niger, Cameroon, Ogooue, and Upper Zambezi.
They have also been seen in the Niger Delta, Lower Ogun, and in the Lower Cross River.
The freshwater butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter.
It is able to breathe air due to its well-vascularized swim bladder.
Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth
is specifically adapted to capture small prey along the water's surface.
If enough speed is built up in the water,
a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance
above the surface to avoid predation.
It also wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides,
with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles,
the ability which earned the fish its common name.
Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons.
A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits.
During feeding times special care should be taken as then they are most likely
to jump and injure themselves outside the water.
This holds true not only for moving foods but for
flakes and any other types of food disturbing the water surface.
They also prefer a tank with live plants,
especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce stress.
Because they are carnivorous, the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of moths,
insects, small fish, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other types of meaty foods.
Freeze dried tubiflex squares can be stuck on the side of a tank at water level,
which they will find and eat.
Occasionally they will eat flake food, but cannot subsist on it.
In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches.
The butterflyfish should not be kept with fin-eating or aggressive fishes.
They have been bred in the home Aquaria. Lowering the water to only a couple of inches in depth for a few weeks
and then refilling the tank with fresh soft acidic water and raising the temperature can stimulate spawning.
Spawning is preceded by the male chasing the female and actually raising himself on top of her.
The eggs when laid are clear and after about ten hours turn very dark and float to the surface.
The butterfly fish spawn over many days so the eggs should be removed with a spoon to a separate tank with identical water conditions.
They hatch in about two days and the young are difficult to raise accepting only the smallest of live food.
