Attempting to pair Chelmon rostratus

[aquaph8]

Anyone ever try this or have success doing so? I have two in my care right now that are in separate QT tanks. I started them off separated until I can get them eating a captive diet really well and have put on some weight. Assuming both do so I will them move them to a tank with a divider and slowly introduce them to each other. They are both pretty nice looking Copperbands and both are eating decent right off the bat. Ill let you know how it goes.

 

[Ambition]

How big are both individuals? I think it may work, but the best way for pairing is to get about 6 very small butterflies then let them pair themselves because they are gonochorists (don't change sex). I do plan on trying to pair some myself down the road. I wish you luck and will be following along!

 

[aquaph8]

Kyle, one's a little bigger than the other but Id say they are both considered medium sized. They were in the same tank at the LFS and seemed to get along fine but I really want to condition them to eat frozen well before they go through the stress of choosing whos the boss. They both seem to be adapting to captivity pretty well and I figure worse case I did all the hard work for someone else to have a nice copperband. Thanks for the well wishing and for your thoughts, really appreciate it.

 

[aquaph8]

One of them eating mysis like a champ and the other not so much yet, what's crazy is the one not eating well was eating well the first day. Hopefully he'll come around and ill have good news to report soon.

 

[jjk_reef00]

That is awesome Brett! A very interesting experiment, I hope it works out for you.

 

[humaguy]

good luck...always curious about how pairing works out...

 

[aquaph8]

Thanks guys, so far getting them both eating has been the real challenge. One of them seems to be a really solid fish but the other hasn't shown too much interest in food still.

 

[rompininphx]

How did this turn out?

 

[aquaph8]

Never got to that point, I lost one after two days.