African Butterfly Fish
Pantodon buchholzi
The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a peaceful fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
West and Central Africa
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
African Butterfly Fish Tank Setup
A tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 75-82°F with a pH around 6-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Top). They reach about 12 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do African Butterfly Fish Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
African Butterfly Fish Tank Mates
Powerful jumper that hunts insects at the water surface - an absolutely tight-fitting lid is essential. Will eat any fish or shrimp small enough to fit in its mouth. Prefers dim lighting, floating plants and still surface water; strong filter flow at the surface stresses it. Rests motionless at the surface - easily mistaken for unwell, this is normal behaviour. The African Butterfly Fish is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are African Butterfly Fish Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
African Butterfly Fish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do African Butterfly Fish need?
African Butterfly Fish need a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do African Butterfly Fish need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 6-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do African Butterfly Fish eat?
African Butterfly Fish have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are African Butterfly Fish good for beginners?
African Butterfly Fish are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with African Butterfly Fish
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 100 litres (26 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check African Butterfly Fish against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with African Butterfly Fish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Neon TetraIncompatible temperament or care requirements
