Speckled Butterflyfish

The Speckled Butterflyfish is an attractive and moderately common species recognized by its pale yellow to white body covered with fine dark speckles or spots arranged in neat horizontal rows. A vertical dark band passes through the eye, and the dorsal and anal fins are edged in bright yellow with a thin black submarginal line. This clean, geometric patterning gives it a refined and elegant appearance.

In the wild, the Speckled Butterflyfish inhabits lagoon and outer reef areas where it feeds on coral polyps, algae, and small invertebrates. This varied diet, while making it adaptable to captive feeding, also means it is not considered reef-safe and will readily pick at soft and hard coral polyps, zoanthids, and other sessile invertebrates in the aquarium. It is best suited for fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock setups.

The Speckled Butterflyfish adapts reasonably well to captivity, accepting frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and prepared foods once acclimated. It is a peaceful species that coexists well with a variety of tankmates and makes an excellent addition to larger community fish-only aquariums. Its manageable size, attractive speckled pattern, and peaceful disposition make it a rewarding choice for intermediate aquarists who maintain non-reef systems.