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What Do Butterfly Fish Eat?

Butterfly fish, which belong to the family Chaetodontidae, are mainly carnivores which eat different foods depending on their species. According to DiveAsia, some species eat coral polyps or plankton. Others eat mollusk eggs, and small invertebrates like worms, shrimp and other crustaceans.

Feeding
- All species have comb-like teeth that can act like scrapers. Some species have evolved mouths for picking out polyps from coral formations, according to Underwater Asia. Species that eat coral are called corallivores, while those that have plankton-based diets are called planktivores.
Range
- Butterflyfish live in the tropics around the world, inhabiting coral reefs. There can be up to 20 different species living on a reef. Butterflyfish are fast swimmers that either form schools in open water or swim in pairs close to the reef.
Other Habits
- Butterfly fish actively feed during the day and sleep at night. They have flat, vertical bodies that allow them to slip in and out among coral formations. According to Underwater Asia, butterfly fish are an indicator species, meaning that their presence indicates that a reef is healthy.

Animals & Science