Hemitaurichthys polylepis, commonly known as the Pyramid butterflyfish, is a medium-sized butterflyfish. Their base colour is pure-white with three large yellow to orangish-yellow areas and a brown head.
These fish are quite peaceful to most other fish, but might harass similar looking fish. They generally live in large schools up to several meters above the outer reef slopes. In an aquarium they can best be kept alone unless the tank is large enough for a small group or a proven pair can be found. They're real omnivores, feeding on algae and small invertebrates, but they feed mostly on zooplankton. But they're also facultative corallivores, meaning they do eat but don't need corals. Although one of the most reef safe butterflyfish, this still makes them a risk in a reef tank though! Especially Xenia is often reported as being eaten, so either keep them in a fish-only tank or accept the damage they can do to corals. Feed them a varied diet of live and frozen meaty foods several times a day because they're not build for one meal a day!
