Longnose butterflyfish

Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Butterflyfish with the widest geographic distribution in the world: inhabits the tropical coral reefs of the Red Sea, the Indo-Pacific and the Eastern Pacific, swimming among the branches of hard corals and along the outer rocky slopes.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Longnose Butterflyfish. Astounding morphology: flat rhomboidal disc-shaped body from which protrudes a very long tubular snout (tweezers), specifically evolved to extract prey from the deepest coral cracks. Reaches 22 cm (9 inches).

Social Behavior: Generally peaceful and tireless explorer. Spends the whole day scanning every crevice of the live rock in search of microfauna. Much more adaptable to life in captivity than the related F. longirostris (which has an even longer snout).

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Chromatically spectacular: the entire body is a very bright lemon yellow. The upper half of the head is black (covers the eye), while the lower half is silvery. Has a flashy black ocellus on the anal fin to deceive predators. Monomorphic.

Aquarium Setup: Demands mature and large tanks (minimum 300 liters / 80 gallons) with hundreds of kilos of excellent quality porous live rock, which will provide it with the hunting territories and shelters necessary to feel at ease. Bright lighting and moderate water movement.

Diet and Feeding: Micro-predatory carnivore. The biggest obstacle is food acclimatization. Initially it will only accept live brine shrimp nauplii, copepods and small frozen mysis offered slowly with a pipette. With patience (a lot), it will get used to small pieces of shrimp meat.

Water Quality: Very sensitive. The water must be chemically perfect. SG 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 24-26°C (75-79°F). The accumulation of nitrates or traces of ammonia lead it in a short time to develop lethal cutaneous bacterial infections.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: It is not "reef-safe" (Caution): it ignores sps corals, but will inexorably destroy tube worms, small ornamental crustaceans, polychaetes, and can pinch fleshy LPS polyps. Cohabits well with quiet fish; avoid aggressive tangs and triggerfish.

Aquarium Breeding: Impossible in home aquariums. They are pelagic spawners that scatter their eggs in the open sea. The larvae go through a complex planktonic stage called "tholichthys", covered in bony plates, before settling in the reef.

Risks and Diseases: Very high risk of death from starvation if placed in sterile tanks devoid of mature live rock. Very easy victim of marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). Having little or no epithelial defenses, it tolerates copper-based drugs very badly.