The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish, or Forceps Fish, can be found singly or in schools on reef flats and slopes of the Indo-Pacific region. It has a long snout for picking food out of crevices and between coral heads. The Longnose Butterflyfish has a yellow body. The color of its head is divided horizontally. The upper half of the head, at the very top of the mouth through the top of the head is black. The lower half is white. It is a fairly large Butterflyfish in the wild, but remains a medium-sized fish in the home aquarium.

This is a good first butterfly purchase, though not necessarily for a beginning hobbyist. If acclimated properly, Longnose Butterflyfish are a hardy addition to any fish-only system. It does best if kept in a 70 gallon or larger tank with peaceful tank mates.

It should be fed a varied diet of meaty foods such as mysid shrimp, crustacean meat, and frozen preparations.

Fish Facts

Name: Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus)

Family: Chaetodontidae

Range: Indo-Pacific

Size: Up to 9 inches

Diet: Carnivore

Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral or rock, plants

Reef Compatible: With caution

Tank Conditions: 72-78°F; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4

Minimum Tank Capacity: 70 gallon

Light: High

Temperament: Peaceful

Swimming Level: No specific level

Care Level: Moderate

Care Level: Egg Scatterer