Raccoon Butterflyfish

The Raccoon Butterflyfish is a hardy and attractive member of the butterflyfish family, named for the distinctive black and white mask across its face that resembles a raccoon's markings. Its body displays a warm yellow to orange-yellow coloration with a series of dark diagonal lines running along the flanks. A prominent black eye bar and white-edged black crescent behind the eye complete its striking facial pattern.

This species is considered one of the hardier butterflyfish, making it a relatively good choice for aquarists with some experience. Unlike many butterflyfish that refuse prepared foods, the Raccoon Butterflyfish typically adapts well to captive diets and will readily consume frozen and prepared offerings. It is an active swimmer that does best in tanks with ample swimming room and plenty of live rock structure.

While the Raccoon Butterflyfish is peaceful toward other fish, it is not considered reef-safe as it will readily consume soft corals, zoanthids, anemones, and various invertebrates. It is best suited for fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock setups. This species can be kept singly or in pairs, and it generally coexists well with a wide variety of tankmates provided they are not overly aggressive.