Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish

Looks how to spot one

Compressed, disc-shaped reef butterflyfish with a very long snout

A bright yellow, flattened body topped by a dark upper head and a pale lower head and chest. Its standout feature is a long, thin snout that works like needle-nose pliers for picking food out of narrow gaps.32

Personality what they are like

Peaceful toward most tankmates. In the wild pairs hold a patch of reef together and use sounds to mark their territory against neighbours of the same kind.32

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A steady, active swimmer that spends the day exploring rockwork and poking its snout into crevices for food.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Rated moderate care. Best in fish-only aquariums with peaceful tankmates, since it may pick at corals and small sessile invertebrates. Acclimate slowly.3

Home where they are happiest

A tank of at least 125 US gallons (about 475 L) with plenty of live rock. Saltwater at 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Wild fish live on exposed seaward and lagoon reefs from the surface to about 145 m.31

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A carnivore. Offer varied meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, chopped crustacean meat and frozen marine preparations. In the wild it plucks tube feet, urchin pincers, worm tentacles, small crustaceans and fish eggs.31

Company who they like around

Lives alone or in small groups of up to about five, with adults usually in pairs. Pair bonds can last seven years or more.12

The story where it all began

David Starr Jordan and Joseph McGregor described the species in 1898. It is a well-known aquarium fish and, according to FishBase, one of Hawaii's leading aquarium-trade exports.12

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 2009)1