Vagabond Butterfly – Chaetodon vagabundus – Small

The Vagabond Butterfly (Chaetodon vagabundus) has diagonal lines that cross its white body in two directions, and a black bar on its face and at the base of the dorsal. The rear part of the dorsal and anal fins are gold-yellow, edged with black. The tail is yellow with two vertical black bars.

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 \