HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishThree-striped butterflyfish Three-striped butterflyfish (Chaetodon tricinctus) Scientific name: Chaetodon tricinctus Waite, 1901 The Three-striped butterflyfish (Chaetodon tricinctus) is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 18Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChaetodon tricinctusFamilyChaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range3–15 m (10–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 15 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionSouthwest Pacific: Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.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 nematopteraYellow-dotted butterflyfishChaetodon seleneRainford's butterflyfishChaetodon rainfordiMidnight angelfishCentropyge noxOriental butterflyfishChaetodon auripesMargined coralfishChelmon marginalisSee 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