Prognathodes guyanensis is a rare deepwater butterflyfish from the Caribbean which is very infrequently available; maybe one or two appear in the aquarium trade every year. Also known as the French butterflyfish, Prognathodes guyanensis is much less known than the bank’s butterflyfish, Prognathodes aya, which has a much more northerly distribution in the Caribbean which is frequently collected in Florida, and sometimes seen by divers as far north as Geogia. By contrast Prognathodes guyanensis usually occurs much further south, like this specimen from the Dutch Antilles.
To casually observers of butterflyfish, the French butterflyfish may seem like another cream-colored fish with some striping but the mohawk-like dorsal fin of Prognathodes butterflyfish is lowered and raised for display and defense, making for quite a majestic and remarkable fish in the aquarium. Another reason for the higher cost of some Prognathodes species of butterflyfish is that in contrast to others, the Prognathodes butterflyfish are actually quite hardy and eager feeders in the aquarium, provided that they are kept in cooler temperature like they experience in their deep reef habitat. Although we may not be able to afford the very high price tag of this deep-collected Prognathodes guyanensis, its new handlers over at B-Box Aquarium have been thoughtful enough to produce a nice video which gives a detailed close up look at this startling high-finned butterflyfish.
[youtube width=”680″ height=”400″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEjQgBhMYVU[/youtube]
