🐟 African Butterfly Fish Pantodon buchholzi

The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a moderate-care, semi-aggressive species from West Africa. Adults reach roughly 4", so plan on a minimum tank of 30 gallons. Keep the water between 73–86°F with a pH of 6–7.5. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for African Butterfly Fish

MollySwordtailDiscusKribensisRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachScissortail RasboraGiant DanioDenison BarbBoesemani RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishMoonlight GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterRainbow SharkFlying FoxGolden Wonder KillifishFancy GoldfishSilver DollarTurquoise RainbowfishRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiGold SeverumFestivum CichlidStriped Raphael CatfishHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed SwordtailSailfin Molly

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerOscarZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbWhite Cloud MinnowPanda CoryOtocinclusCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraBloodfin TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraGlowlight DanioCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbThreadfin RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidFrontosaMultifasciatusPygmy CoryJulii CoryChinese Algae EaterDwarf PufferfishBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailGold TetraFlame TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidShell-DwellerAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpClown Killifish

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