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No federal permit to keepFreshwater butterflyfish
Pantodon buchholzi
Fishes › Arowanas and elephantfish (Osteoglossiformes) › Pantodontidae (Freshwater butterflyfish)
The freshwater butterflyfish or African butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a species of osteoglossiform fish native to freshwater habitats in the Niger and Congo basins of Western and Central Africa.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 73–86 °F (23–30 °C) Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 281 |
| Water pH | 6–7.5 pH Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 281 |
| Water general hardness | 5–15 dGH Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 281 |
| Maximum standard length | 120 mm SL Source maximum; not total length or a guaranteed adult size. | 281 |
| Minimum tank dimensions | length: 90 cm; width: 30 cm; height: 30 cm Surface area matters most; the source prefers greater width where possible. | 281 |
| Preferred water temperature | 77–80 °F Preference within the broader 23–30°C source range, not a replacement for it. | 281 |
| Diet | Surface-fed insects and other suitable live/frozen invertebrates; ensure food remains accessible at the surface. | 281 |
| Enclosure requirements | Gentle surface movement, floating cover and a tightly secured lid; avoid swallowable fish and fin nippers. | 281 |
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 30 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.7 in / 11.9 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 21 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–86 °F, pH 6–7.5, 5–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species does best in slightly soft, acidic water, preferably stained with tannins.”
- Diet: “It is mainly an insectivore in nature and a varied diet of live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, prawn, small mealworms etc.”
- Tankmates: “The butterfly fish is generally quite peaceable, but its trailing finnage offers irresistible temptation to fin-nipping species.”
- Breeding: “Not easy but it is possible.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Bonytongues, knifefish and elephantnoses
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Tropical rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Very large tanks for arowanas and knifefish; jumpers need tight lids. Elephantnoses need soft substrate and dim light.
Diet
- Live and frozen meaty foods.
Health watch
- The Asian arowana is endangered and illegal to own in the U.S.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is the only extant species in the family Pantodontidae. Despite the name, it is not closely related to saltwater butterflyfishes.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Freshwater butterflyfish” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams, lakes. Pantodon buchholzi is a creature from calm waters. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–86 °F (23–30 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–86 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 67°F (down to 63°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 80–83% on average (driest month about 76%) |
| Rainfall | about 1690 mm a year |
Measured at 82 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The freshwater butterflyfish or African butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a species of osteoglossiform fish native to freshwater habitats in the Niger and Congo basins of Western and Central Africa. It is the only extant species in the family Pantodontidae. Despite the name, it is not closely related to saltwater butterflyfishes. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | The eggs have a diameter of about 1.5 mm. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The freshwater butterflyfish is a relatively small species, usually reaching no more than 13 cm in length. Its pectoral fins are very large relative to body size. It has a large and well-vascularized swim bladder, enabling it to breathe air at the surface of the water. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Obligate air-breathing; Pantodon buchholzi is a creature from calm waters. It lives in swamps, creeks and backwaters, and inhabits the calmer parts of rivers, where it can be seen on the surface waters. They are capable to jump out of the water, to search for insects or to escape from predators. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.