Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish

The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish, also known as the Forceps Fish, is commonly found in schools or as solitary individuals on reef flats and slopes in the Indo-Pacific region. Its long snout resembles needle-nose pliers, which helps it extract food from crevices and between coral heads. The Longnose Butterflyfish has a yellow body with a horizontally divided head. The upper half, from the top of its mouth to the top of its head, is black, while the lower half is white. Its dorsal spines are long and jagged. While this species is relatively large in the wild, it remains a medium-sized fish in home aquariums. Although a good first purchase for butterflyfish enthusiasts, the Longnose Butterflyfish may not be suitable for beginner hobbyists. When properly acclimated, it is a hardy addition to any fish-only system and thrives best in a 125-gallon or larger tank with peaceful tankmates. If kept in a reef aquarium, caution must be taken as it may nip at corals and sessile invertebrates. A varied diet of meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, crustacean meat, and frozen preparations is recommended for the Longnose Butterflyfish.