Freshwater butterflyfish

Pantodon buchholzi, the freshwater butterflyfish, is the sole species in the family Pantodontidae, native to slow, still waters of West and Central Africa. It has a flattened body, upturned mouth, and greatly enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins that let it glide across the surface; its mottled brown coloration camouflages it against the surface film. It is a surface-dwelling ambush predator, generally calm toward fish it cannot eat but likely to snap up smaller tankmates and to nip trailing fins. Males can be territorial with each other. It needs a well-covered aquarium with a calm surface, floating plants, and dim lighting to feel secure. It relies on floating insects and other surface foods, readily taking live and frozen insects, crickets, and floating carnivore foods. A tight lid is essential, as it can leap from open water. It is a surface egg-layer whose floating eggs and fry occupy the same zone.