African Butterflyfish
Pantodon buchholzi
Pantodontidae
FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established
About
An ancient arowana relative from the still swamps and vegetated backwaters of West and Central Africa, the African butterflyfish spends its whole life pressed against the water surface. Seen from above, its huge wing-like pectoral fins mimic a dead leaf; below, thread-like pelvic rays dangle like a lure. It hangs motionless under floating plants, then launches ballistic leaps to snatch insects — or to clear an open aquarium in one jump.
Care
Keep in a calm, dimly lit tank that favours surface area over depth, with dense floating plants, soft slightly acidic water, minimal flow and a completely gap-free lid — it is an exceptional jumper. Choose mid- and bottom-dwelling tankmates too large to swallow; it will eat any small fish at the surface and spars with other surface dwellers, while fin-nippers shred its trailing fins.
Diet
Feeds only at the surface: live or frozen insects, crickets, bloodworm and large floating carnivore pellets; it will not follow food that sinks.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (139)
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Avoid (132)
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Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
There is no reliable way to sex this species by eye. That is the honest answer, not a gap in our data.
All the methods, with diagramsAlso in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a African Butterflyfish need?
- A African Butterflyfish needs an aquarium of at least 80 litres (21.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a African Butterflyfish need?
- African Butterflyfish does best at 23–30 °C (73.4–86 °F), pH 6–7.5 and a general hardness of 4–15 °dGH.
- Is the African Butterflyfish suitable for beginners?
- African Butterflyfish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature23–30°C
Optimal temp.25–27°C
pH6–7.5
Hardness (GH)4–15°d
Carbonate (KH)2–8°d
Adult size12 cm
Min. volume≥ 80 L
Min. tank length≥ 90 cm
Group size≥ 1
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPredatory
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~6 yrs
Try in the calculator