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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Indian vagabond butterflyfish

Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier, 1829
Max Length
20 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.6
Depth
1–30 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Found on rich coral reefs, also on rubble and rocky areas. Adults in pairs, juveniles solitary. Closely related to C. vagabundus . Home ranging . Feeds largely on algae and coral polyps, but captive ones will accept a wide variety of food. Oviparous . Form pairs during breeding . Excellent aquarium fish.

Scientific Name
Chaetodon decussatus
Authority
Cuvier, 1829
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
20 cm
Depth Range
1–30 m
Trophic Level
2.6
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Indian vagabond butterflyfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

Form pairs during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m . Tropical West Pacific: Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea and the westernmost portion of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
2.6±0.4
🧍 Solitary

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01318 × L2.88 (TL)
Max TL
20cm
Dorsal Spines
13
Dorsal Rays
25
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
21

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
22.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.6
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Cuvier, 1829

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Chaetodon Decussatus is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.4 g
Omega-3 (total) 105 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Indian vagabond butterflyfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Indian vagabond butterflyfish.

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