Many aquarists adore the African Butterfly Fish because of its unique appearance with breathtaking hues.
They are native to the water’s surface in Congo Basin, Cameroon, Lower Niger, Upper Zambezi, and Ogooue.
This ornamental species is a favorite among seasoned aquarists and a fun complement to their aquarium.
If you prefer to keep these aquatic creatures, you must know about their care guides and features, including African butterfly fish size.
Let’s dig deeper into this article to discover every detail!
Contents
African Butterfly Fish Size
The African Butterfly Fish typically grows to a length of 5 inches in nature but only reaches a maximum of 4 inches when kept in aquariums.
Several aquarists may be surprised when seeing an African Butterfly in an aquarium since they often assume it is significantly larger. Let’s take a closer look at the appearance of these fish.
The head of these aquatic creatures is flat with upward-facing eyes. The back may be light brown or green with dark spots on the belly and fins.
The fins come in various stunning hues, and their powerful muscles enable them to leap or glide across close distances, allowing them to escape predators.
Most interestingly, this species can breathe air like humans. They possess a sizable, well-vascularized swim bladder to control buoyancy and permit gas exchange when allowing surface air breathing.
These creatures can live up to six years. If you properly care for them, provide good diets, and house them with ideal water conditions, their longevity is longer.
African Butterfly Fish Behavior
African Butterfly fish serve as aquarium decorations. They are generally calm. They often prefer to float near the water’s surface.
The typical behavior of this species in nature is spending time staying in one place for several hours.
When you notice these creatures move, they may intend to catch smaller species and insects in the tank.
However, this behavior is entirely different when you feed them. At that time, these creatures become powerful and active swimmers. They dart after and devour the food.
You should know that this species may become relatively aggressive when they need to protect their territory.
They view the tank’s surface as their territory and regard any other species as potential rivals for food. To fend off invaders, they will battle.
Therefore, you should pay more attention when seeing these creatures start swimming from the water surface to other areas.
It may be a sign that these creatures are hungry, or the water conditions emerge with some issues.
African Butterfly Fish Care Guides
Because they have specific needs, African Butterfly Fish are inappropriate for inexperienced keepers.
These creatures are sensitive to changes in the water’s chemistry. Thus, you must regularly check the various water parameters.
Let’s keep these considerations in mind before you add these creatures to your aquarium!
Tank Size
These creatures float under the water top in their native environment; thus, they naturally swim at the surface of a tank.
For this reason, the width and length of an aquarium are much more essential than its depth.
The ideal tank size for these creatures is 40 gallons. It is advisable to purchase a long aquarium rather than a too-tall one.
Also, get an aquarium lid that fits snugly. These creatures may leap out from the tank with the large tail fin.
Water Parameters
One essential aspect of caring for this species is maintaining the correct water conditions. The environment must be as consistent and stable as possible for this species to survive and live happily.
Here are recommendations for water parameters:
- Water temperature: 75 – 86℉
- Water hardness: 1 – 10 KH
- pH levels: 6.5 – 7
You must monitor and pay attention to the water’s chemistry level in the tank because these creatures are susceptible to water parameters.
Setting up a testing routine, as well as purchasing a trustworthy testing kit, are advisable. Also, conduct a water test every 2 – 3 days.
If you have never used a test kit before, you can watch this video to get tips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0gH-6f41Uc
Tank Setup
Plants are necessary for the habitat of these creatures. In nature, they often live and hide in regions with foliage.
These fish often swim under the water’s surface, so it’s a good idea to add floating plants to their tank to have shade and make them comfortable.
For instance, you can consider tall plants such as Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Bolbitis. However, leave enough space for your fish to reach the water top.
The substrate or other decorations like driftwood or caves are not suitable as these creatures won’t often swim at the tank bottom.
Tank Mates
You can add the Butterfly Fish to a community tank. However, if you are looking for their ideal tank mates, here are some considerations.
- These fish are predatory creatures. Avoid small species that prefer to float at the top, as they will devour and nip the fins of these mates.
- Keep African Butterfly Fish with species that swim in the middle and at the bottom of an aquarium.
- Don’t add fin-nippers, as they will bite Butterfly Fish flowing fins.
Below are the best tank mates for your Butterfly Fish:
- Rope Fish
- Cory Catfish
- Kuhli Loach
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Rubber Lip Pleco
- Nerite Snails
Diet
The African Butterfly Fish may be picky. Their favorite meals include live and frozen foods, sometimes pellets and flakes.
These creatures require meaty live meals like spiders, mealworms, and crickets. You can also consider feeding them with brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms.
It’s a good idea to provide food for these fish 2 – 4 times daily. They only float on the surface to eat, so remember to use floating pellets.
FAQs
Are African Butterfly Fish Aggressive?
It’s not the natural behavior of these fish. However, they may be aggressive if others come closer to their territory.
Do African Butterfly Fish Need a Filter?
Yes! Butterflyfish need a robust tank filtration system that can maintain clean water without stirring it up.
Do African Butterfly Fish Need a Heater?
The short answer is yes! These creatures require a heater in their tank to keep the water temperature stable.
How Big Can The African Butterfly Fish Get?
In nature, these fish have a maximum length of five inches. When kept in captivity, they only grow around four inches.
How Long Does African Butterfly Fish Live?
The average lifespan of this species is 5 to 6 years. However, if properly cared for and well maintained, they can live up to 10 years.
Wrapping Up
The African Butterfly Fish size varies depending on the environment. For instance, they may grow up to five inches, but in captivity, they only have a maximum length of about four inches.
If you plan to keep these fish in your aquarium, remember they require ideal water parameters and careful maintenance.
Hopefully, this post will be helpful for you. Thanks for reading!
