The Orange-banded Tweezerfishalso called copper-banded tweezers, is a striking, very pretty one with its bright color and attractive stripes butterflyfish. It normally lives at depths of up to 25 m on coral reefs or rocky coasts and lagoons, e.g. B. in Thailand, Madagascar or Eastern Australia.
He is a food specialist, which can also be recognized by the long shape of its mouth and is therefore very demanding. He should, if at all only be kept by experienced saltwater aquarium owners. For this is a well established aquarium very important. Since he normally feeds on live food, which he looks for in small crevices and holes, it is usually difficult to get him used to frozen food. With its long mouth, it pecks tiny creatures from rocks and algae growth or searches for worm-like creatures.
Unfortunately, many animals die within the first few days or weeks because they refuse food intake, since they cannot find their otherwise preferred food. Exactly what this is can even be slightly different for each individual fish and is difficult to figure out. You have to try a lot of tricks and you should catch the fish too feed several times a daybecause he eats very slowly.
gender differences
In the Chelmon rostratus the two sexes look very similar. Both have the golden yellow vertical stripes running down the body and the prominent eyespot on the rear dorsal fin. The forehead profile of the males is somewhat steeper. The fish can too gender transformation undergo, which may affect behavior and size.
socialization
It is considered easier and safer to keep the fish alone without conspecifics. With other fish and invertebrates, however, the Socialization usually possible without any problems. It gets along well with non-butterfly fish, e.g. B. the surgeon fish.
If one Tridacna shell in the aquarium, you should be careful, as it can happen that the fish keeps pecking at the soft tissue of the mussel and this can lead to the mussel dying because it no longer opens at all.
breed
The Breeding in the aquarium is difficult and actually not possible, since the fish is very sensitive and demanding due to its feeding behavior. Also the Keeping as a couple does not work without problems. The generally calm, peaceful fish can become aggressive towards conspecifics if they do not accept their partner.