African Butterfly Fish Care: Tank, Food and Tank Mates

Published: 2026-10-29 · FishyKart Blog

The African butterfly fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a 4-5 inch surface hunter from slow, vegetated waters of West and Central Africa. Its wide pectoral fins look like butterfly wings, and it waits just under the surface for insects to fall in. It needs a tank with a wide surface of around 30-40 gallons, calm water, floating plants and a tight lid, because it jumps.

Photo: Vassil - Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Parameter	Value
Scientific name	Pantodon buchholzi
Origin	West and Central Africa (Niger, Congo basins and nearby)
Adult size	4-5 in
Tank	30 gal recommended (about 21 gal minimum), wide surface, tight lid
Temperature	73-86 F
pH	About 6.0-7.5, soft to medium water
Diet	Surface carnivore: insects, floating pellets, frozen foods at the surface
Temperament	Ignores larger fish, eats any fish that fits in its mouth

Tank Setup

Surface first: the fish lives in the top inches of water. A long, wide tank gives it room to patrol.
Gentle flow: use a filter with a soft outflow; strong surface current stresses it.
Floating plants: duckweed, water sprite or hornwort give cover; leave some open water for feeding.
Lid: close all gaps and keep a little air space above the water.

Feeding

African butterfly fish rarely take food from the middle or bottom of the tank. Offer:

Live or frozen insects: flightless fruit flies, small crickets, mealworms.
Floating carnivore pellets or sticks.
Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp placed at the surface.

Feed small amounts once or twice a day.

Tank Mates

Choose fish that stay in the middle and bottom and are not fin nippers: corydoras, kuhli loaches, bichirs, ropefish, larger peaceful tetras and calm cichlids such as angelfish. Avoid tiger barbs and other nippers, and other surface fish such as hatchetfish that compete for the same space or get eaten.

Keeping More Than One

They can be aggressive to each other, especially in small tanks. Give each fish its own floating cover and enough surface length.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How big do African butterfly fish get?

Usually 4-5 inches long in aquariums.

What do African butterfly fish eat?

Food that floats at the surface: insects such as crickets and flies, floating carnivore pellets, and frozen foods offered at the top.

Can African butterfly fish jump?

Yes. They are strong jumpers, so the tank needs a tight lid.

Can you keep African butterfly fish with tetras?

Small surface fish may be eaten. Mid-level and bottom fish such as corydoras, larger tetras and peaceful cichlids usually work.

What tank size do African butterfly fish need?

Around 30-40 gallons with a wide surface area; the length and surface matter more than depth.