Rainford's Butterflyfish

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Southwest Pacific Ocean, endemic to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and the Louisiade Archipelago. Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and algae-rich lagoons down to 20 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Chaetodontidae. Named after E. H. Rainford, who collected the first specimens of the species in Queensland, Australia.

Social Behavior: Shy and reserved species. Found singly or in monogamous pairs, swimming close to the reef structure and retreating into coral caves if threatened.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Bright golden-yellow or orange body. Marked by two prominent vertical grey-blue bands edged in dark orange on the body, and a black band masking the eye.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a mature marine aquarium of at least 300 liters with plenty of live rock to provide hiding spots and natural grazing surfaces.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Feeds on algae, coral polyps, and small benthic invertebrates. Accepts high-quality flakes, pellets, frozen brine shrimp, mysis, and spirulina.

Water Quality: Standard marine parameters: temperature 22-27 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and salinity 1.020-1.025 with efficient filtration and moderate water movement.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Highly peaceful. Not reef safe as it nips at stony corals. Best kept with quiet, non-aggressive species in a fish-only setup.

Aquarium Breeding: Spawning in home aquariums is undocumented. Pelagic spawner. Eggs and larvae drift in the ocean column before settling onto reefs.

Risks and Diseases: Moderately delicate. Susceptible to marine ich (Cryptocaryon) and stress. Ensure the aquarium is fully cycled and stable before introduction.