Latticed butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Raffles' coralfish, Raffles' butterflyfish
Family
Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes)
Origin
Indian and Pacific Oceans from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotus, southern Japan and the Great Barrier Reef; coral-rich lagoons, reef flats and seaward reefs at 1–20 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
18 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
350 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
no

Care

An uncommon fish that needs a mature, well-stocked tank; 350 litres is an estimate (adults are often about 15 cm). Water figures given here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and a specific gravity of 1.023–1.026. Keep nitrate low and water quality stable. Usually seen in pairs. Yellow with dark scale edges forming a lattice, a black bar through the eye and a blue patch on the forehead; unlike C. unimaculatus it has no eyespot. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodonrafflesii). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Feeds on sea anemones, bristleworms and the polyps of soft and stony corals. Such specialist feeding can make it slow to wean onto prepared foods; try mysis, chopped clam and worms.

Breeding

Not described in the sources.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful with other fish. Not reef safe: it eats anemones and coral polyps.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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