Teardrop Butterfly – Chaetodon unimaculatus

The Teardrop Butterfly (Chaetodon unimaculatus) is named for the black blotch on its sides, that is shaped like an upside down teardrop. This fish is white with yellow fins, the yellow fading into white from the dorsal end down towards the stomach. They have a black vertical band through the eyes, and black edge on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.

Butterflyfish consist of a large number of fish found in the aquarium trade from the Chaetodon, Chelmon, Forcipiger, and Heniochus genuses, among others from the family Chaetodontidae. The family ranges in length from 3 inches up to close to 12 inches in length. Butterflies are usually roughly oval in body shape but longer fins make some appear elliptical or diamond-shaped. They resemble and are sometimes confused with angelfish (family Pomacentridae) but angelfish have a cheekspine that is not found in butterflies.

Butterflies are generally community fish in nature. Though some more pugnatious species may terrorize smaller or more docile fish, most can be kept with a wide range of community tankmates. Most butterfly species are not \