Mirror Butterflyfish, Chaetodon speculum

The Mirror Butterflyfish Chaetodon speculum, makes a striking appearance in the home aquarium, due to its bright yellow color with accents of black: a wide vertical bar running through its eye regions, and a large spot beneath the base of its dorsal fin with diffused edges. This distinctive marking is what prompts the other names it is known as such as the Oval Spot Butterflyfish or One Spot Butterflyfish.

The Mirror Butterflyfish is difficult to keep because it is a corallivore and is suited to the care an expert level aquarist can provide. It eats corals and may nibble or eat Tridacna clams.

Generally peaceful, this species of Butterflyfish may become aggressive toward others of their own species and should not be housed with aggressive tankmates. The aquarium for this Butterflyfish should have plenty of live rock or other places to hide, and plenty of swimming room. It can only be kept in a large tank with a lot of fast-growing corals where considerable damage to the corals is accepted. Some hobbyists try to expand their food offerings to include live mussels with crushed shells to provide an additional food source for this member of the Chaetodontidae family. But if unsuccessful, the hobbyist should be dedicated to providing corals to sustain this Butterflyfish throughout its life.