Butterfly fish are omnivorous species because their diet consists of aquatic insects, animals, and water algae. Butterfly fish are not poisonous but they are not mainly used for food purposes. They are taken from the rivers for aquarium trade purposes. 

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There are about 129 species of butterfly fish and they are generally found in Indo Pacific oceans and on the coral reefs of the western Atlantic Ocean. Butterfly fish prefer to live in shallow warm water near shores and estuaries. They remain in the water region which is less deep than 65 feet but fewer species can live in water habitats up to 650 feet.

The average weight of a butterfly fish is about 12-22 cm in length and the average weight is about 20-80 grams. A butterfly fish can live for about 5-10 years.

Insects and aquatic animals

Butterfly fish eat different aquatic animals and insects, worms, detritus worms, crustaceans, hermit crabs, shrimps, copepods, isopods, and krill, prawns, sponges, coral polyps, water fleas, amphipods and decapods, aiptasia, corals, and sea anemones. Butterfly fish will eat meat, starfish, plankton, zooplankton, and live brine shrimp.

Butterfly fish diet depends on its size and species. They eat food two to three times per day in small quantities.

Aquatic plants

Some species of butterfly fish feed on aquatic plants. They often use plants near the shores to hide their eggs from predators. Some species eat grass and fungi. Butterfly fish also feed on planktons such as phytoplankton.

In captivity, they prefer to feed on vitamin-enriched fishes and crustaceans.

What butterfly fish don’t eat

Butterfly fish don’t eat squid because they can’t eat them and some are too big as compared to their size. Butterfly fish don’t like to eat chicken and beef.