Pearlscale Butterfly - Red Sea

Description

The Pearlscale Butterflyfish has a robust, laterally compressed body adorned with a pearlescent, iridescent sheen. A bold black vertical band runs across the eye, while the rest of the body is pale silver-white with yellow fins and subtle black accents. Adults reach a maximum size of 12 cm (4.7 inches).

This species is highly recognizable for its metallic, “pearl-like” scale appearance, which shimmers in aquarium lighting. Its calm, deliberate swimming adds elegance to midwater regions of the tank.

Aquarium Requirements

Minimum Tank Size: 250–350 litres (65–90 US gallons)

Temperature: 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

pH: 8.1–8.4

Specific Gravity (Salinity): 1.020–1.025

Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate:< 10 ppm

Aquascape and Environment:
Provide a mature aquarium with ample live rock for grazing and shelter. Open swimming areas are essential for this midwater swimmer. Moderate water flow ensures proper oxygenation and helps simulate its natural reef environment.

Diet and Feeding

Chaetodon paucifasciatus is omnivorous but favors small invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, it requires a varied diet to maintain vibrant coloration and overall health.

Recommended Foods:

• Frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood

• High-quality marine carnivore flakes or pellets

• Sponge-based or specialized butterflyfish diets

• Occasional live foods such as copepods or amphipods

Feed 2–3 times daily in small portions, encouraging grazing around rock formations and coral areas to mimic natural feeding behaviors.

Temperament and Compatibility

The Pearlscale Butterflyfish is peaceful and generally non-aggressive, making it compatible with other calm reef fish. It may show mild territorial behavior toward conspecifics in small tanks, so pairing or group housing should be carefully considered.

Suitable Tankmates:

• Peaceful reef fish such as gobies, blennies, tangs, and anthias

• Reef-safe invertebrates like shrimp, snails, and crabs

Avoid:

• Aggressive, fast-feeding, or large species that may outcompete it for food

• Small tanks where territorial behavior may increase stress

Reef Compatibility

✅ Reef Safe

Chaetodon paucifasciatus is generally reef-safe and poses minimal risk to corals or sessile invertebrates. Suitable for mature reef aquariums where it can forage naturally on live rock.

Additional Information

Maximum Size: 12 cm (4.7 inches)
Lifespan: 6–8 years in captivity
Difficulty Level: Moderate (requires varied diet, stable water parameters, and mature aquarium)
Natural Behaviour: Midwater swimming, gentle forager, substrate grazer
Origin: Red Sea and western Indian Ocean
Colouration: Pearlescent silvery body, black eye band, yellow fins with subtle black accents

Summary

The Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon paucifasciatus) is a medium-sized, peaceful species celebrated for its shimmering pearlescent scales and graceful swimming. Reef-safe and moderately easy to maintain for experienced aquarists, it thrives in mature aquariums with live rock, open swimming areas, and a varied diet. Its elegance, subtle coloration, and natural foraging behavior make it an outstanding addition to Red Sea or mixed-species marine tanks.