Chaetodon lineolatus

Chaetodon lineolatus, commonly known as the Lined butterflyfish, is the largest Chaetodon. Their body is mostly white with thin vertical black lines on it. The part just below the dorsal fin is yellow and has a large black patch/bar as well. All unpaired fins are yellow and on the face runs a wide black vertical bar through the eye.

These fish are usually not aggressive towards other fish, but can become quite territorial sometimes. They usually live in pairs in coral rich areas in lagoons and on seaward reefs. In an aquarium they can best be kept alone, unless a proven pair can be found. They're omnivores feeding on algae and small invertebrates but they're also facultative corallivores, meaning they do eat coral polyps, but don't need corals to survive. And this species is known to eat quite some coral polyps and anemones in the wild. This makes them a risk in a reef tank, but a perfect pick for a fish-only tank! Feed them a varied diet of live and frozen meaty foods, supplemented with a high quality algae flake or pellet to make them thrive!