Do you like it ?

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

It is Chaetodon daedalma, Work-of-Art Butterflyfish, or Wrough-iron Butterflyfish from Japan (endemic).

It was described by using Okinawa specimen but it is exteremely rare in Okinawa (if found it always becomes a big news), while in the Izu Islands this species is very common especially around Hachijo-jima, and also in the Ogasawara Islands (Bonin).

Rudie Kuiter asked me how I would call it, and I replied 'I call it the Black-silk Butterflyfish". He showed it so in his butterflyfish book.

It is rarely seen at retailers and commanding a very high price of some US $400. It was photoraphed at a shop some twenty years ago.

It is not colorful so much but very attractive to me, and do you like it ?

 

[Anonymous]

I've always loved these fish. I think the Kuiter book has a photo of a whole school of them. They're just damn cool looking.

They're expensive and rare, yes, but are they obligate feeders?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

This species eats anything offered well in the aquarium, and does not choose food, but may pick some species of live corals or shrimps.

 

[NKT]

$400? The latest I saw was $1000 But I agree with Dr. Tanaka...not a very gorgeous fish and for the money I would much rather get a nice Centropyge angel... (hotumatua...joculator....resplendens....)

 

[Anonymous]

I think mitratus butterflies are way nicer looking.

 

[FragMaster]

EWWwwwwww.
Looks like a cross between a carp and a butterfly fish
To each their own though.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, I quite like it. And I'm not usually at all fond of butterflies.

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Thank you all.

All the aquarists at least one time want to keep a butteflyfish in home, and some of them change their favorites into other families, but some persist.

This species is one of the rarer ones sold at retailers in Japan, and some pay for angels, damsels or wrasses. I would like to add it to my tank someday but now I hope to buy juveniles of some angelfishes like the Lemopeel instead, and when Black-silk Butterfly is affordable I will get.

 

[Anonymous]

I think mitratus butterflies are way nicer looking.

I had one of these...they are usually touted as being reef-safe. They are NOT.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Two varieties of Chaetodon octofasciatus, Eight-banded Butterflyfish.

The yellow form has a wide distribution from Sulawesi (Indonesia), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Palau. The white form comes from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali & Flores (s. Indonesia), the Philippines, Taiwan and southrn Japan (rare).

Kuiter states that the yellow form is distinct in having a different coloration and bars on side, but there is no significant meristic data (John Randall, pers. comm.).

The yellow one is not well-known in market, and shipments from Sulawesi sometime include some specimens on rare occasion at a fairly cheap price.

 

[Rare Angels]

I love the Wrought Iron butteflyfish also! I seen my first live specimen at the Waikki aquarium in 2000 and it made me like them even more.

Some day I am sure I will get one!

Dave