African Butterfly

Pantodon buchholzi
Common Name
African Butterfly
Other Common Names
Butterfly Fish
Scientific Name
Pantodon buchholzi
Family
Pantodontidae
Community
Semi-Aggressive
Class
South American
Temperature
78 ºF
Swimming Range
Top
Adult Length
4-5 inches
Feeding Habits
Prefers live brine shrimp, blood worms, crickets, glass worms, small fish and tubifex worms. Frozen plankton, beef heart, blood worms, daphnia, brine shrimp, glass worms and hi-pro. Freeze dried, flake and pellet foods are also accepted.
Compatibility
Peaceful with other fish of equal size, but will eat smaller fish.
Habitat
Africa: Moderately decorate with live plants, rocks and driftwood. Leave lots of swimming space on the surface. A few live floating plants are recommended to provide cover.
Breeding
The wing span of the male is larger and the anal fin is indented while the females has a straight edge. Spawning can produce up to 200 eggs, and fry hatch in 36 hours.
Additional Comments
Butterflies must be kept in a covered tank as they will leap out of the water for food. In the wild they skim the surface of the water at lengths of six feet at a time.