Criss-cross Butterflyfish

About

The criss-cross butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus) is one of the more familiar butterflies across the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the coasts of East Africa all the way out to the Line and Tuamotu Islands, and from southern Japan down to Lord Howe and the Austral Islands. Its common name comes from the diagonal grid-like line pattern crossing its white body, which sets it apart from many of its relatives at a glance. A broad black band sweeps across the rear of the body and into the tail, and the face carries the classic dark eye-bar typical of the genus. In the wild, adults turn up on reef flats, lagoon edges, and seaward reef faces, and they're not shy about venturing into murkier coastal waters affected by freshwater runoff. One of the most interesting things about this species is its social life: pairs form lasting monogamous bonds, and both fish actively defend a shared feeding territory against rival pairs. Though they generally get along fine around other species without picking fights. Their diet in the wild covers algae, coral polyps, small crustaceans, and worms, which does make reef compatibility a concern. This is considered a reasonably manageable butterfly for intermediate keepers who can meet its space requirements.