SUCCESSFUL CAPTIVE SPAWNING AND CULTURE OF REEF BUTTERFLYFISH Chaetodon sedentarius

The Reef Butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius) is native to the Caribbean and is marketed to the marine ornamental trade. Captive spawning and culture to metamorphosis have not been previously documented and research regarding all phases of aquaculture is not available.

A bonded pair was obtained from Marathon, FL in 2015. After three months of conditioning, the pair began regularly spawning 3000-5000 eggs every two to three days. On this successful run, 3000 eggs were stocked into a black, 440 L fiberglass tank. Beginning 4 dph, larvae were fed Parvocalanus crassirostris copepod nauplii twice daily and enriched Brachionus plicatilis rotifers once daily. At 20 dph, newly hatched Artemia were added to the diet. At 43 dph, dry diet was added. Average total densities fed daily were 5.3, 8.6, and 0.2 per mL for copepod nauplii, rotifers, and Artemia, respectively. At 17 dph larvae had inflated swim bladders. The last mortality was recorded at 36 dph. Metamorphosis was completed by 75 dph and three juveniles were obtained. This study is the first report of the Reef Butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius) being successfully cultured in captivity.