HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishGardner's butterflyfish Gardner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) Scientific name: Chaetodon gardineri Norman, 1939 The Gardner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman eastward to Sri Lanka. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19. Large black area over the posterior part of the body.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon gardineriFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length17.0Depth range15–91 m (49–299 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 15 - 91 m, usually 20 - ? mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman eastward to Sri Lanka.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraArabian butterflyfishChaetodon melapterusBlack-spotted butterflyfishChaetodon nigropunctatusJapanese butterflyfishChaetodon nipponSaint Helena butterflyfishChaetodon sanctaehelenaeHawaiian gold-barred butterflyfishRoa excelsaSee all angelfish & butterflyfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026