Butterfly fish

Not to be confused with Sea Butterfly

The Butterfly Fish (チョウチョウウオ, Chōchō̄-uo) is a small, yellow fish that appears in the ocean during April to September. It is uncommon. It can be found all day long. This fish will sell for 1,000 Bells, and must not be confused with the Sea Butterfly, which also sells for 1,000 Bells, but appears in winter. The Butterflyfish appears in, , and.

In City Folk
Upon donating the Butterfly Fish to the Museum, Blathers will say;

"This is a butterfly fish, but the truth is that there are over 100 varieties of this creature... They live in the oceans of the far south, and each variety has its own distinctive coloration. These fish are most often seen socializing in groups among stalks of coral. Rather chatty, wot?"

It can be found in the back tank with the other ocean fish.

In New Leaf
Upon donation to the museum, the information board in front of the tank that houses the Butterfly fish says:

"Butterfly fish are considered very cute pets, popular because of their beautiful nature. They glide through the warm seas by flapping their yellow bodies as if they were butterflies. Their diets are surprisingly hardy, as they gobble coral and poisonous anemones using narrow mouths. Butterfly-fish couples have been known to live together for 10 years or more. Often they can be seen swimming around in pairs. You'll likely never find a better underwater romance."

In New Horizons
When donating to the museum, Blathers will say the following:

"Ah, the butterfly fish is just charming with its beautiful colors and elegant movements. I refer to it as a butterfly fish, but it's actually a grouping in which there are over 100 types! These beautiful aquatic friends swim in schools amid coral, fluttering back and forth with the tides. The sheer awe one must experience when witnessing such a sight. It must be a dream! So much better than actual butterflies... "

New Leaf
Chip will say this when given a Butterfly Fish:


 * "Now, with a butterfly fish, you want to salt and then grill that guy right up. I'm not that picky, of course, so I'm just gonna scarf it raw!"

Further information


This butterfly fish is the oriental butterflyfish (Chaetodon auripes). There are many species of butterfly fish, some of which bear a resemblance to the barred knifejaw.