Racoon Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon Lunula)

The Racoon Butterflyfish is an eye-catching, hardy species, easily recognized by its distinct black mask around the eyes and contrasting yellow and white bands across the body. With its bold coloration and peaceful temperament, this butterflyfish is a popular choice for larger marine tanks. It’s an active swimmer, often seen gracefully exploring rock structures, making it a dynamic addition to the aquarium. However, due to its natural diet, the Racoon Butterflyfish is best suited for fish-only tanks, as it may nibble on corals and invertebrates in reef setups.

Care Information

• Maximum Size: Up to 8 inches.
• Tank Size: 125 gallons minimum; requires a spacious tank with plenty of rockwork and open swimming areas.
• Diet: Omnivorous; feeds on algae, small invertebrates, and coral polyps in the wild. In captivity, it can be trained to accept a varied diet, including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and high-quality marine pellets. Regular feedings of marine algae or nori sheets are recommended to maintain health.
• Water Temp: 72-78°F.
• Salinity: 1.020-1.025.
• Aggression: Peaceful; generally non-aggressive, making it suitable for community tanks with other peaceful tankmates.
• Skill Level: Intermediate; while hardy, the Racoon Butterflyfish requires consistent feeding and a stable tank environment to thrive.
• Reef Compatibility: Not reef-safe; due to its tendency to nibble on coral polyps and other invertebrates, it is best kept in fish-only tanks.

Special Requirements - Spacious Environment
The Racoon Butterflyfish is an active species that benefits from a large tank with both open swimming space and rock structures to explore. It thrives in stable, well-established tanks with consistent water quality.

Compatibility
This butterflyfish is generally peaceful and compatible with other non-aggressive fish species. It does well in community fish-only tanks, though it may become territorial with other butterflyfish if introduced into smaller setups.

Coloration

• Indo-Pacific Region: The Racoon Butterflyfish displays a striking black “mask” around its eyes, with a body that transitions from yellow to white bands. Its dorsal fin is accented in yellow, adding to its distinct appearance​.

Typical Habitat

• Distribution: Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, particularly in coral reefs and rocky coastal areas, where it grazes on small invertebrates and algae. In aquariums, it thrives in environments with plenty of swimming space and rockwork for foraging.