The double-dash butterflyfish, Chaetodon marleyi is a cool water endemic of South African marine habitats. Chaetodon marleyi is a very rarely collected species and for this the tiny specimen above was quickly sold by Crownfish for just under 100,000 yen, or about $1100. Since the nearly identical species the Robustus butterflyfish can usually be purchased for around $150 it is hard to see how a collector can justify spending almost ten times more for that extra spot in the dorsal fin but that is what separates the die hard rare reef fish collectors from the individuals who just want bragging rights for high profile fish. Let’s hope this diminutive individual of the double-dash butterflyfish settles in well to captivity so that we can keep tabs on it as it grows up. Follow the break for another look at this C. marleyi specimen as well as a photograph of the much more readily available Chaetodon robustus.
