Freshwater butterflyfish

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Freshwater butterflyfish

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Osteoglossiformes
Family:	Pantodontidae
Genus:	Pantodon Peters, 1877
Species:	P. buchholzi

Binomial name

Pantodon buchholzi
Peters, 1877

The freshwater butterflyfish or African butterflyfish, Pantodon buchholzi, is the only species in the family Pantodontidae within the Order Osteoglossiformes. It is not closely related to saltwater butterflyfishes.

1 Habits
2 Location
3 In the aquarium
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Habits

The freshwater butterflyfish is a specialized surface hunter. It is able to breathe air due to its well-vascularized swim bladder. Its eyes are constantly trained to the surface and its upturned mouth is specifically adapted to capture small prey along the water's surface. If enough speed is built up in the water, a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance above the surface to avoid predation. It also wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides, with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles, the ability which earned the fish its common name. ^[1] The fish feeds primarily on small insects and smaller fishes.

[edit] Location

Freshwater butterflyfish are found in the slightly acidic standing bodies of water in West Africa. They require a year round temperature of 73-86°F. Butterflyfish are found in slow to no current areas with high amounts of surface foliage for cover. They are commonly seen in Lake Chad, the Congo Basin, throughout Lower Niger, Cameroon, Ogooue, and Upper Zambezi. They have also been seen in the Niger Delta, Lower Ogun, and in the Lower Cross River.

[edit] In the aquarium

Freshwater butterflyfish can be kept as pets in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons. A tightly closed top on the tank is required because of their jumping habits. They also prefer a tank with live plants, especially ones that float near the surface, providing hiding places to reduce stress. Other required conditions are a temperature of 75° to 85°F, a pH of 6.9-7.1, and a KH of 1-10. Because they are carnivorous, the freshwater butterflyfish must be fed a diet of insects, small fish, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other types of meaty foods. Occasionally they will eat flake food, but cannot subsist on it. In aquaria, freshwater butterflyfish can grow to 4 inches. The butterflyfish should not be kept with fin-eating or aggressive fishes.