butterflyfish - representative of the family schetinozubovyh.It is the calling card of a coral reef.The structure of the body has a specific, strongly compressed laterally.The head is small, a small mouth with outstretched lips, teeth, thin bristle, some species of tricrotic tip.The body is covered with small scales.The dorsal fin is not divided, it stretches around the body, in some species the front part is elongated and resembles feathers.
representatives of this family are characterized by multiple colors with a predominance of yellow, black, silver and brown tones with bright blue, red spots or stripes.Due to the unusual color of the creature became known as butterflyfish.Photography is well demonstrated extraordinary brightness of its color.
Contrasting colors - is a way of masking: against the background of a coral reef so blurred contours of the body.The age dimorphism (difference in coloration of adults and juveniles) is not available.The size of fish are small in length rarely exceeding 25 cm. There fish having a height greater than the length of the body, for example, view Heniochus.
They live butterfly fish in the tropical seas in the coastal strip.Preference is given to coral reefs and rocky outcrops, as well as areas of the seas with algal thickets.Butterfly fish does not migrate, settling on one of the reefs, all life holds him close.Some individuals even have a permanent "home" in like a crevice, and the approach to the relatives' house "actively driving them.Surprisingly, other types of fish on the coral community, they did not react.
butterfly fish is very nimble and agile, it can dramatically change direction.In an emergency, when approaching a predatory fish, it hides in caves and cavities of the reef.Maybe it "fly", jumping out of the water, skim the surface, catching insects.In the "flight" pectoral fins are not pressed against the body, but sometimes piling up.
butterfly fish sea is solitary or floating in a small group of 2-3 individuals.Large flocks they will never form.They eat a variety of invertebrates, removing them from the crevices and collecting from the surface of the reef or eating around a large fish skin.
Meat and edible these creatures, said to be very tasty.But they can be poisoned, as if the fish ate poisonous tentacles actinide the toxins accumulated in the tissues.Strong poison - ciguatera - can cause death.
butterfly fish is very popular in reef aquariums.Several species of these fish can coexist peacefully, provided a large volume of the aquarium.And they need to settle in at the same time.Otherwise, the old-timers will cast newcomers.With large invertebrates in the aquarium, they get along, and small perceive only as feed.Since butterflyfish likes to jump, you need to partially cover the aquarium glass.
complexity of the content in home aquariums is that salty water is needed, a special diet, mostly live.But if you want to include these particular fish, then you can overcome any difficulty and achieve even their breeding.In contrast to the difficulties - the ability to observe the behavior of these unusual creatures.
