African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi)
African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi)
African butterfly fish hang motionless right at the surface, wing-like pectoral fins spread wide, waiting for an insect to fall onto the film above them — and when one does, an unusually elastic, upward-hinging mouth snaps shut in a fraction of a second to snatch it. Those same broad fins let it glide briefly above the waterline when startled, which is exactly why any tank holding one needs a tight-fitting lid and not just a loose cover.
Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful (predatory to small fish) · Max size: ~5" · Min tank: 20 gal, tightly covered · Diet: Carnivore, floating live/frozen foods
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Pantodon buchholzi
- Common name
- African Butterfly Fish
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Care level
- Moderate
- Temperament
- Peaceful (predatory to small fish)
- Max size
- ~5"
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- Diet
- Carnivore, floating live/frozen foods
When it ships
Most non-quarantined stock goes out the week you order. If we do not already have the animal in-house we source it first — allow up to two weeks for it to reach us. Live animals leave Monday and Tuesday, and Early AM Overnight is the only service that carries a live arrival guarantee.
The live guarantee
Shipped Early AM Overnight: a 1-hour DOA window from confirmed delivery, and nothing beyond it. Next Day Air and 2-Day carry no live arrival guarantee, and neither does USPS Priority. Local pickup or local delivery: 24 hours, if you bring a water sample from your aquarium and we test it before the animal goes home. Maintenance clients: 60 days when we service the aquarium at least twice a month, 28 days on a monthly plan.
Expert guidance
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