Wrought Iron Butterflyfish

Chaetodon daedalma

Charcoal grey with silver-edged scales like a wrought-iron gate, trimmed in yellow. It lives only around a few remote Japanese islands.

A peaceful saltwater fish that grows to 15 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 22–26 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 300 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

22–26 °C (72–79 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

15 cm (5.9 in)

Aquarium

300 L or bigger (79 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Ogasawara & Izu Islands, Japan

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Aurora Moon Jelly, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Copperband Butterflyfish, Coral Beauty, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Mandarin Dragonet, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Psychedelic Frogfish.

Eaten by: Lionfish, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Harlequin Shrimp.

Colours

• Classic legendary

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.