Copperhand Butterfly
This marine aquarium fish is known as Copperhand Butterfly and the correct latin name is Chelmon rostratus. It belongs to the Butterfly Fish family. (e) Origin of this fish is Indo-Pacific. (e)
Copperhand Butterfly can grow up to 20 cm what is approximately 7 inches. In general, 1 specimen requires at least 2400cm2 of water surface which is approximately 372 square inch. We recommend you to keep it in fish tanks which are large. (e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). Large aquariums have at least 265 Litres (70 US Gallons). Very large aquariums have at least 700 Litres (185 US Gallons).
It is not very difficult to keep the Copperhand Butterfly fish. (e) The specific gravity (SG) should be between 1,020 and 1,025, the temperature between 23°C (73.4°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The suggested level of pH (a measure of the acidity/basicity) is between 8.0 and 8.3 which is usual for most marine fish.
You may read many opposite things about this fish. Some say that it is difficult to keep it, some say that it is easy. The reason why people say that it’s difficult to keep Copperhand Butterfly is that they don?t want to eat and it is hard to acclimatize in the fish tank for them. And vice-versa, if people say that it is easy to keep them, then it mans that the Copperhand Butterfly fishes will eat fish food normally. Some people even say that this fish eats it’s tank-mates like little creatures, corals and anemones. And once again, some people say that these fish eat fish food only.
All what’s mentioned above simply means that each fish is an individuality with different demands (naturally a big and quality fish tank will secure the best conditions for them and so that this species should be peaceful). So maybe buying this fish is like buying a cat in a bag. All differences are caused by the care before you buy a fish. If it was caught and raised well before buying and the transport was not so long, the fish will be more healthy and it will acclimatize better. You should choose brighter and bigger fish. The best option is to buy a fish from Australia, because they are more healthy, however they are expensive too.
You should feed Chelmon Rostratus live food. It is natural and it can help even badly kept fish to start eating. You can also give them frozen food. They like brine shrimps, mysis shrimps and can eat algae along with pest anemones from the glass. The best is to have live rocks where they can find food during the day, so there is a smaller chance that they will eat corals and normal anemones.
If you want to keep this fish, you should have only one fish from it’s species because they are territorial. You can keep two fish in a tank, if it is large and if one is a male and other a female. But it is hard to say the sex of the female. Chelmon Rostratus is peaceful towards other species.
Thanks to Kenneth Leonard for the pictures. Copyright Ken Leonard.
Thanks to Dobroslava Banov (the pictures below are quite large, open them if only your internet connection is good enough)!
Related fish profiles in the database
Feel free to share your experiences regarding keeping Chelmon rostratus below. Every message will be held for approval by our moderators. It usually takes 24 hours to publish your comment. Before you ask anything, browse the questions page, please.
Character and suggestions regarding care
A peaceful Butterfly Fish.Copperhand Butterfly can grow up to 20 cm what is approximately 7 inches. In general, 1 specimen requires at least 2400cm2 of water surface which is approximately 372 square inch. We recommend you to keep it in fish tanks which are large. (e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). Large aquariums have at least 265 Litres (70 US Gallons). Very large aquariums have at least 700 Litres (185 US Gallons).
It is not very difficult to keep the Copperhand Butterfly fish. (e) The specific gravity (SG) should be between 1,020 and 1,025, the temperature between 23°C (73.4°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The suggested level of pH (a measure of the acidity/basicity) is between 8.0 and 8.3 which is usual for most marine fish.
You may read many opposite things about this fish. Some say that it is difficult to keep it, some say that it is easy. The reason why people say that it’s difficult to keep Copperhand Butterfly is that they don?t want to eat and it is hard to acclimatize in the fish tank for them. And vice-versa, if people say that it is easy to keep them, then it mans that the Copperhand Butterfly fishes will eat fish food normally. Some people even say that this fish eats it’s tank-mates like little creatures, corals and anemones. And once again, some people say that these fish eat fish food only.
All what’s mentioned above simply means that each fish is an individuality with different demands (naturally a big and quality fish tank will secure the best conditions for them and so that this species should be peaceful). So maybe buying this fish is like buying a cat in a bag. All differences are caused by the care before you buy a fish. If it was caught and raised well before buying and the transport was not so long, the fish will be more healthy and it will acclimatize better. You should choose brighter and bigger fish. The best option is to buy a fish from Australia, because they are more healthy, however they are expensive too.
You should feed Chelmon Rostratus live food. It is natural and it can help even badly kept fish to start eating. You can also give them frozen food. They like brine shrimps, mysis shrimps and can eat algae along with pest anemones from the glass. The best is to have live rocks where they can find food during the day, so there is a smaller chance that they will eat corals and normal anemones.
If you want to keep this fish, you should have only one fish from it’s species because they are territorial. You can keep two fish in a tank, if it is large and if one is a male and other a female. But it is hard to say the sex of the female. Chelmon Rostratus is peaceful towards other species.
Thanks to Kenneth Leonard for the pictures. Copyright Ken Leonard.
Thanks to Dobroslava Banov (the pictures below are quite large, open them if only your internet connection is good enough)!
Related fish profiles in the database
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Feel free to share your experiences regarding keeping Chelmon rostratus below. Every message will be held for approval by our moderators. It usually takes 24 hours to publish your comment. Before you ask anything, browse the questions page, please.
Document modified on Thu Jan 1 10:20:18 UTC 2009
Document created on Sun Dec 16 21:09:26 UTC 2007
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