Couldn't resist...

... because I am a SUCKER for african butterflies!!!



He is currently still in a bag being acclimated to my water, if you couldn't tell

Once he is out and about for a few days I'll get better pics. Since this fish doesn't move much, it's pretty easy

I've never seen one of those before! Super cool!

Very impressive!

And I'm not even a freshwater fan!

What store did you pick him up at? Super cool!

They are not common, but getting moreso. I LOVE them, but I also love weird looking fish! I'll try to get some top-down photos.. its pec fins really truly do look like butterfly wings I floated some of the hornwort to give her a hiding spot so I'll see if I can get him/her out of hiding!

Sorry Nick!! I didn't mean to bypass your question. I actually found him at Pet Supermarket.. I was there for bird treats, but they always have the coolest catfish. I never get any.. but I could not pass up my true love!!

Anyway, here is a photo of the top. The pecs actually have more color/pattern than that, but this fish can alter its coloration depending on its mood. Right now, it's stressed!! I'll get a photo when it's on defense at some point (it's not a fan of my hatchets schooling by it, even if they are harmless), it turns half of its body dark to look like dead foliage, and the light parts blotch medium brown. Really neat.

Very cool! Nice fish!!

Sweet!

So far so good. I have floated the hornwort I want and rid of the rest, it was making my tank look too dark! Got new swords instead.

Butterfly has thus refused frozen food but has been very happy to make me go out every few days to buy crickets :b Except last night when one of the hatchets decided to take a cricket right from its face.. gutsy little bugger!! There was a big chase and in the end.. I am honestly not sure where the cricket went. I suspect one is under my couch, though..

crickets??

^That's what i was thinking! I used to feed crickets to my pet bass but that was different lol

Haha yes! Butterflies are omnivorous, but I have never had one that didn't prefer live food. This one will kind of go after freeze dried food.. doesn't like frozen, but actively hunts around the tank if she sees a pinhead (aka, small) cricket at the surface. Because the crickets can climb onto the floating plants, she has to lunge to get them. A little brutal, but it's so nice to see her move.. she stays VERY still during the day otherwise!

That's really cool! A video of it would be super cool!!

Ahahaha indeed! I will try sometime. She flees from my hand so I have to move in super slow motion. Hoping she comes to associate my hand with food (like, I don't know... all the other fish??).. which would make for an even better video!