African butterflyfish
Pantodon buchholzi
- Tank length
- 30 cm12 in
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C73–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 10 cm4 in
- Lifespan
- 4–6 yrs
A surface-dwelling insect hunter that leaps when startled; keep a tight lid, calm water, floating plants, and no small surface fish.A surface-dwelling insect hunter that leaps when startled; keep a tight lid, calm water, floating plants, and no small surface fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
Assassin snailAfrican butterflyfish may eat Assassin snailAfrican butterflyfish may eat Assassin snail
- Blue emperor tetra
African butterflyfish may eat Blue emperor tetraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Blue emperor tetra
Celestial pearl danioAfrican butterflyfish may eat Celestial pearl danioAfrican butterflyfish may eat Celestial pearl danio
Cherry shrimpAfrican butterflyfish may eat Cherry shrimpAfrican butterflyfish may eat Cherry shrimp
- Cherry spot rasbora
African butterflyfish may eat Cherry spot rasboraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Cherry spot rasbora
- Dusky millions fish
African butterflyfish may eat Dusky millions fishAfrican butterflyfish may eat Dusky millions fish
Ember tetraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Ember tetraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Ember tetra
- Emerald eye rasbora
African butterflyfish may eat Emerald eye rasboraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Emerald eye rasbora
- Endler livebearer
African butterflyfish may eat Endler livebearerAfrican butterflyfish may eat Endler livebearer
Ghost shrimpAfrican butterflyfish may eat Ghost shrimpAfrican butterflyfish may eat Ghost shrimp
- Glowlight danio
African butterflyfish may eat Glowlight danioAfrican butterflyfish may eat Glowlight danio
- Glowlight rasbora
African butterflyfish may eat Glowlight rasboraAfrican butterflyfish may eat Glowlight rasbora
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Still waters of West and Central Africa | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 4–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |