Freshwater butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freshwater butterflyfish |
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The freshwater butterflyfish, also known as the African butterflyfish, is a unique type of fish. Its scientific name is Pantodon buchholzi. It's the only living species in its special family, the Pantodontidae. Even though it's called a butterflyfish, it's not related to the colorful saltwater butterflyfish you might see in the ocean.
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What Makes the Freshwater Butterflyfish Special?
Freshwater butterflyfish are small, usually growing to about 13 cm (5.1 in) long. They have very large fins on their sides, called pectoral fins. These fins look a bit like butterfly wings, which is how they got their name!
This fish has a special air sac inside its body called a swim bladder. This bladder is very good at taking in oxygen from the air. This means the butterflyfish can breathe air from the surface of the water.
They are meat-eaters, which means they are carnivores. They mostly eat insects that live in the water and smaller fish.
How They Hunt and Glide
The freshwater butterflyfish is a super hunter, especially for prey on the water's surface. Its eyes are always looking up at the surface. Its mouth also points upwards, which is perfect for catching small animals right on top of the water.
If a butterflyfish needs to escape danger, it can build up speed in the water. Then, it can jump and glide a short distance above the surface. It wiggles its large pectoral fins while gliding. This special ability helps the fish avoid predators and is why it's called a "butterflyfish."
How Do Freshwater Butterflyfish Reproduce?
When freshwater butterflyfish lay eggs, they create a group of large, floating eggs. These eggs stay on the surface of the water. Scientists believe that the eggs are fertilized inside the female fish. The eggs usually hatch in about seven days.
Where Do Freshwater Butterflyfish Live?
Freshwater butterflyfish live in West Africa. They prefer still water that is a little bit acidic. They need the water temperature to stay warm all year, between 73–86 °F (23–30 °C).
You can find them in areas where the water moves slowly or not at all. They like places with lots of plants floating on the surface, which gives them cover. They are commonly seen in places like Lake Chad, the Congo Basin, and parts of the Niger River, Cameroon, Ogooue, and upper Zambezi. They have also been spotted in the Niger Delta and the lower Cross River.
Keeping Freshwater Butterflyfish as Pets
Many people enjoy keeping freshwater butterflyfish in large aquariums. However, it's best to keep only one butterflyfish as the main fish near the top of the tank. This is because they can be aggressive towards other butterflyfish or similar fish like hatchetfish that swim near the surface.
The top of their tank must be tightly closed. This is very important because of their jumping habits! They do better in a tank with real plants, especially ones that float. These plants give them places to hide and help reduce their stress.
They need water with a pH of 6.9–7.1. The water's hardness, called KH, should be between 1 and 10. In an aquarium, they can grow up to 5 inches long. They should live in tanks that are at least 20 gallons long (about 30.5 inches long) or bigger.
Do not keep them with fish that might nip at their long, flowing fins. Also, they will eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouths. So, it's best to keep them with fish that live at the bottom of the tank, or with other fish that are too big for them to bother.
They usually don't like to eat dry fish food. They do best with a diet of live or even canned crickets and other insects. Live feeder fish (but not goldfish) that have been fed good nutrients are also a good option. They like calm water, so the filter in their tank should not create too strong of a current.
See also
- Flying and gliding animals
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
