HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishIndian vagabond butterflyfish Indian vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus) Scientific name: Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier, 1829 The Indian vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea and the westernmost portion of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago. BiologyMost of dorsal fin black and caudal fin with black vertical bands.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon decussatusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range1–30 m (3–98 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea and the westernmost portion of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago.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 nematopteraNarrow-barred butterflyfishAmphichaetodon melbaeTwospot coralfishCoradion melanopusTruncate coralfishChelmonops truncatusBlack-velvet angelfishChaetodontoplus melanosomaThree-banded butterflyfishChaetodon robustusSee 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