Raccoon Butterflyfish

The raccoon butterflyfish gets its name from the "mask" formed by the black band across its eye and the white area right behind it. Its yellow–orange body has diagonal reddish lines, a broad yellow-edged black band running from the nape to behind the gill cover, and a black spot on the tail base. Juveniles also have an eyespot on the rear part of the dorsal fin.

Specimens are wild-collected. It is one of the hardiest butterflyfish and switches easily to prepared foods. Among aquarists it is best known for clearing Aiptasia (glass anemone) infestations; but because coral polyps are also part of its diet, this job is usually given to it in systems without corals or with only hardy corals.

It lives on reef flats and seaward reefs of the Indo-Pacific, down to 30 meters. Juveniles are found among rocks on inner reef flats and in tide pools. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups and is also active at dusk and at night. In the wild it feeds on sea slugs (nudibranchs), tube worm tentacles, bottom-dwelling invertebrates, algae and coral polyps.

• Volume: At least 400 liters and 150 cm in length.
• Water: Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Decor: Plenty of live rock and wide swimming space; shaded overhangs where it can rest.
• Reef compatibility: Not reef-safe. It eats soft and LPS corals, zoanthids, tube worms and anemones. It is recommended to keep it for a short time to clear Aiptasia or in a fish-only aquarium with live rock.

Omnivorous. Offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, chopped mussels and shrimp, dried seaweed and mixed frozen foods prepared for butterflyfish. Feed small amounts 2–3 times a day.

Peaceful and curious. It may fight with members of its own species if they are not paired; it is usually tolerant of other butterflyfish. Very aggressive tankmates keep it away from food.

Good companions: Tangs, large and dwarf angelfish, foxface, Heniochus, wrasses, larger damselfish, calm triggerfish.

Avoid: Reefs with corals and anemones, tube worms, lionfish, fin-nipping triggerfish.

Kept as a single specimen or a mated pair in the aquarium. If a pair is not sold together, two juveniles can be tried together in a large aquarium.

Pairs release pelagic eggs. It does not breed in the home aquarium.

• Marine white spot and velvet: Quarantine is essential.
• Copper sensitivity: Butterflyfish are sensitive to copper treatment.
• Poor nutrition: Color fades in specimens fed a single type of food.

Cannot be reliably distinguished externally.