Fun Wrought-iron Butterflyfish Facts For Kids

The Chaetodon daedalma or wrought-iron butterflyfish is an aquarium species that is loved all over the world. One of the many things that makes this fish species attractive is its easy diet. Taking care of a member of the Chaetodon family is fairly simple given its omnivorous diet.

The wrought-iron butterflyfish can grow up to a length of 5.9 in (15 cm) and has some adaptive features. A member of the Chaetodon family, the wrought-iron butterflyfish can be a great option for any domestic aquarium since it is a peaceful fish which hardly ever attacks other fish species. Keep reading to learn more facts about the wrought-iron butterflyfish.

What type of animal is a wrought-iron butterflyfish?

As the name suggests, the wrought-iron butterflyfish is a type of fish that is found near Japanese rock reefs. It is also a very common aquarium species.

What class of animal does a wrought-iron butterflyfish belong to?

The scientific name of the class to which the wrought-iron butterflyfish belongs is known as Actinopterygii. However, we can just as easily classify them as fish.

How many wrought-iron butterflyfish are there in the world?

Unfortunately, there are no records as to the exact population of this fish species across its (wrought-iron butterflyfish) habitat. However, since it is an aquarium species, we can imagine that these fish are available in large numbers.

Where does a wrought-iron butterflyfish live?

The wrought-iron butterflyfish is a marine animal which loves rocky reefs. It has an extensive range of habitat and is found in several places. The area of habitat is dependent on the temperature of the water and the availability of coral reef.

What is a wrought-iron butterflyfish's habitat?

A wrought-iron butterflyfish range of habitat area is largely contained within southern Japan. The coral reef formations in the area are great for these Japanese fish to breed and live in peace. The islands of Izu, Ogasawara and Ryukyu house a very large number of wrought-iron butterflyfish.

Who do wrought-iron butterflyfish live with?

These fish from southern Japan are particularly fond of living in tightly knit schools. Across their range, they form groups of hundreds as they swim around in search of invertebrates and plankton to feed on.

How long does a wrought-iron butterflyfish live?

Unfortunately, there are no scientifically assured sources which can tell us the life expectancy of the wrought-iron butterflyfish species. However, as a general rule, fish species tend to thrive more in a domesticated aquarium as opposed to their marine range of habitat. In domesticated settings, fish have less to no exposure to the many predatory fish species of the world.

How do they reproduce?

A description of the reproduction process in wrought-iron butterflyfish would be inadequate without stating that these black fish are oviparous in nature. This essentially means that in a wrought-iron butterflyfish reef tank or in the natural habitat, female fish would lay eggs instead of giving birth to young ones as in the case of humans. Wrought-iron butterflyfish couples remain close and monogamous throughout their lives. However, not much is known about how they function or who takes care of young ones in the case of wrought-iron butterflyfish breeding.

What is their conservation status?

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List states that the conservation status of the wrought-iron butterflyfish is that of Least Concern. This means that these fish feel safe in their range of habitat and that their population is stable.

What do wrought-iron butterflyfish look like?

A physical description of the wrought-iron butterflyfish species would most likely talk about how this fish species looks very similar to angelfish. This fish species has a small length and is characterized by the length of its body. The Chaetodon daedalma has a metallic black coloration which can bring charm to any aquarium. The wrought-iron butterflyfish of the genus Chaetodon is also characterized and loved around the world as an aquarium species because of its yellow fins. Whether in southern Japan or any other part of the world, it is difficult to miss out on the beautiful contrast the colors form on the body of this fish.

How cute are they?

With its small size and black and yellow colors, it sometimes becomes impossible to not note how beautiful and utterly adorable this Japanese species is!

How do they communicate?

The Japanese wrought-iron butterflyfish communicates in the same way as any other genus of the fish family does. The fish family is known for its stunning ability to communicate through gestures and movements. The pairs of fins throughout the length of a fish's body serve more purposes than the obvious one, which is swimming!

How big is a wrought-iron butterflyfish?

The size of a wrought iron butterflyfish can be identified as fairly small. While fish of this genus can sometimes become large, the Chaetodon daedalma remains in the length range of up to 5.9 in (15 cm).

How fast can a wrought-iron butterflyfish swim?

Unfortunately, there are no records gathered from the many islands within the range of habitat as to how fast these fish from Japan can swim.

How much does a wrought-iron butterflyfish weigh?

While the Chaetodon daedalma is very famous around the world, there is shockingly less information on matters like its weight.

What are male and female names of the species?

There are no special names for the male and female wrought-iron butterflyfish (Chaetodon daedalma). Hence, we will simply have to refer to them as a male wrought-iron butterflyfish and a female wrought-iron butterflyfish.

What would you call a baby wrought-iron butterflyfish?

Like all other fish genus around the world, even the Chaetodon daedalma juvenile would be called a fry.

What do they eat?

The Chaetodon daedalma has an omnivorous diet. This fish feeds on anything that is available naturally in the islands of southern Japan. Important parts of the diet of this genus would be invertebrates and plankton. They remain in close groups when scouring for food.

Are they dangerous?

While there may be some isolated events that speak otherwise, there is little evidence which would let us believe that the Chaetodon daedalma is not a peaceful fish species. The wrought-iron butterflyfish (genus Chaetodon) is known to feel at home in an aquarium in any part of the world, if given the right care and temperatures.

Would they make a good pet?

The world has already accepted the Chaetodon daedalma as a very good pet option. If you have an aquarium at home or have been meaning to get one, a Chaetodon daedalma can be a great choice. Fish of this species look like angelfish, remain close to each other and hardly ever attack other fish. Wrought-iron butterflyfish care is also very easy in terms of diet.

Did you know...

Wrought-iron butterflyfish look like angelfish. They are small in size and are naturally found in Japan. They form monogamous pairs. They also live in pairs or in large groups. They have a simple diet which consists of invertebrates and plankton.

How did wrought-iron butterflyfish get their name?

Before you have a Chaetodon daedalma in your aquarium, you must know the origin of its common name. This fish is named after its metallic black color, which resembles wrought-iron.

What adaptations do wrought-iron butterflyfish have?

One thing to note about the Chaetodon daedalma is how the species can deal with predators in spite of the fish's small size. Fish of this species are found to make a ball-like formation when a threat arrives. It works as a defensive strategy. The wrought-iron butterflyfish coral habitat presents the need for this species to have tricks for survival.

*We've been unable to source an image of a wrought-iron butterflyfish and have used an image of a copperband butterflyfish instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a wrought-iron butterflyfish, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected]