the approximately 150 types of the butterfly-fish, named also Gaukler or butterfly-fish, belongs to the most colorful Meeresbewohnern, that we know. As approach relatives of the emperor-fish (subfamily Pomacanthinae), they are unified to the family of the Borstenzähner (Chaetodontidae) with these. Both subfamilies let themselves distinguish easily of each other: In contrast to the butterfly-fish, the emperor-fish carry a thorn on the gill-cover, that can be put in as effective defense-weapon.
Shape, drawing As world-wide widespread inhabitants of coral-reefs, the butterfly-fish adapted themselves to this habitat in quite outstanding manner. The artspezifishesn, coral-reef serve colorful and varied drawing-patterns as important signals of the innerartlichen precinct-demarcation (Borstenzähner) in the narrowly restricted ecosystem.
Also this usually langmäulige muzzle represents an adaptation at the life in the reef. it enables herauszuzupfen the animals, coral-polyps, small bristle-worms, small-cancers, algae and other grew up from the branched coral-sticks. Bigger food-scraps cannot pick up the butterfly-fish since they possess Borstenzähner only a small mouth-opening like finished.
With some types (Chelmon, Forcipiger, Chelmonops and Prognathodes), the muzzle even moved out to a real tweezers ("Pinzettfishes").
All butterfly-fish are very strongly compressed lateral and carry well developed back and anus-fins, that they also arrow-hurl to agile and over shorter routes, swimmers makes. The sharp ones, with danger aufgespreizten serves back-fin-thorns the defense.
Like like with emperor-fishings finds considerable differences in the coloring of young we with also many butterfly-fishings - and alto-animals.
Types, spread Since many butterfly-fish are imported to increasing extents for aquaristische purposes, we know quite well about the life-claims and places of discovery of many types today. Most butterfly-fish live in pair-formation as distinctive precinct-creators.
The largest part of the types lives in North-Australia the reefs of the Indo-Australischen archipelago before Sumatra, Java, the South-Chinese coast as far as to the Japanese islands. Further main focuses of the spread are this red sea and the surroundings of the islands Madagascar and Mauritius. Interestingly, the Atlantic and Caribbean types of those of the Indopazifiks are completely separate; not a type seems in both the Atlantic and in the Pacific.
Type Chaetodon it includes over 80 types the largest part of the subfamily as well.
The first, scientifically at all mentioned butterfly-fish is the four-eye-butterfly-fish (Chaetodon capistratus, until 15 cm), who was described already 1758 by Linné. This type owes its name to a black one, white gerandeten eye-stain jederseits of the tail-root. The remaining body is coated on silvery-white grounds of fine, arrow-good, black strips. The fish descendant from the Caribbean is nursed particularly by the U.S. aficionado in the aquarium.
A similar eye-stain, however above the tail flukes*-base, the pennant or eye-stain-butterfly-fish (C) carries. auriga, until 20 cm, to which a diagonally proceeding strip-pattern shows on also silvery-white reason. The white body-color goes to the tail fluke in yellow until orange over. With increasing age, the last back-fin-ray lengthens to a "pennant." This type well persevering in the aquarium frequently is imported and is widespread as far as to the Pacific from the red sea over the Indian ocean.
The collar-butterfly-fish (C) is valid beside the previous type. collare, until 15 cm, as the most robust type in the aquarium; it is a distinct beginner-fish under the Chaetodontinen provided one can say this at all with butterfly-fishings! In any case the still inexperienced sea-water-aquarianist should give a try to these two types at first before it dares to tackle the attitude of the more sensitive forms. The black head is clearly taken off the mainly brown body through a white "collar." This fish is usually caught in coast-waters before Sri Lanka, is, however, widespread in the entire Indopazifik.
One of the most splendid types, it is yellow undoubtedly red-sea-butterfly-fish (C). semilarvatus, until 20 cm, that usually carries 12 vertical, weakly brown strips on gold-yellow reason. This fish suitable for beginners not likes to swim in company of Artgenossen and should be nursed only in big aquariums.
While itself the alto-fish of the mask-butterfly-fish (C). fasciatus, until 18 cm, from the red sea and this the in the entire Indopazifishesn area or in the red sea of widespread black-sickle or moon-sickle-butterfly-fish (C). lunula, until 20 cm, distinguishes clearly of each other, the young-fish of both types find themselves similarly to confusing.
Further more known Chaetodon-Arten are the red or gold-tail-butterfly-fish (C). chrysurus, until 15 cm, from the Indian ocean, the saddle-stain-butterfly-fish (C). ephippium, until 20 cm, from the Indopazifik, as well as the smoke-butterfly-fish (C). pictus, until 10 cm, from coast-waters of Sri Lanka and it it very similar, recently as own type severed vagabond-butterfly-fish (C). vagabundus, until 15 cm, from the Indian and the Pacific ocean.
Pinzettfishes The most well-known Pinzettfish is the Orange-Pinzettfish (Chelmon rostratus, until 18 cm) gave a home in the Indopazifik. Like finished Pinzettfishes is it a distinct food-specialist, who is not to be always simply accustomed to substitute-feed in the aquarium. Found out sea-water-aquarianists recommend small earthworms (those one still vitamin-solution or feed-paste injects) since the fish prefer red feed unequivocally before different-colored feed.
This has Pinzettfish (Forcipiger flavissimus, until 22 cm) an especially long moved out muzzle-part yellow like its rarely imported cousin Forcipiger longirostris. This type is widespread in the Indopazifik from East-Africa as far as after Hawaii.
Further, little known Pinzettfishes are found Chelmonops and Prognathodes in the types.
Further types The types of the pennant-fish (type Heniochus) with its far moved out one are the most known, 4 whiten. Back-fin-thorn, the black-and-white Streifung and the yellow backside.
As bandage-limb is told by the look of the type Hemitaurichthys, whose most known representative is the Prussia-butterfly-fish (Hemitaurichthys zoster, until 18 cm), between the pennant-fish and the Chaetodon-Arten. This type roams in small schools of 20-30 animals in contrast to the usually in pairs living Chaetodon-Arten.
Aquarienhaltung The reader finds particular care-instructions for these usually however very sensitive fish in the extensive compartment-literature. It is broadly said that the water-temperature should lie between 25-30 °C and that because of the high oxygen-demand, as with all coral-reef-inhabitants, for an efficient oxygen-supply must be worried. Still, one should Artemia-Salinenkrebse, fodder, salad, algae, very much mussel-meat, Mysis-Garnelen, fresh-born Guppys at diversified feeding (Enchyträen) etc..) watches and through regular partial, with sea-water quite expensive!) Water-changes for low Nitrit and nitrate-content provide. (Nitrit and nitrate are created at the protein-reduction; particularly the Nitrit has an effect venomously on low animals and fish with higher concentrations in the sea-water-aquarium.
It is again emphasized that the purchase of these fish is irresponsible in the attitude without corresponding expertise. All coral-fish, who are offered on the market, are little rascals. Found out aquarianists and Aquarienvereine certainly are gladly willing to give valuable hints to the novice. The freshwater-butterfly-fish, Pantodon buchholzi is a Knochenzüngler. on the other hand
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