Copper band butterfly

[rjcranor]

I was wondering if a Copper band would do well in a 50 gallon breeder. I have a apastia issue and picked up a couple of peppermint shrimp.so far I have only seen 1 in the tank and haven't seen much done as far as eating the apastia. :headwally:

 

[JSeymour]

Peppermints are one of my favorite Aiptasia removers. Of all of them, they seem to cause the fewest issues(mainly they just steal food from corals). They just take some time to feel comfortable and do their job, but the same can be said for Copperbands.

A copperband could do very well in a 50(36" x 18" x 19"). What are the other inhabitants of your tank? The biggest problem with copperbands is getting them to eat in the first place. In a reef, they are known for nipping/eating worms, zoanthids, many lps, clams on the sand bed, and will sometimes harass starfish and urchins. Not all individuals will do this and it can be curbed by feeding plenty and having well developed fauna in the tank.

If you do get a copperband (ich and velvet magnets), I like to immediately place them into hyposalinity with little acclimation(a couple hours of drip acclimation). They won't get sick, and it takes them longer to starve. Doing this, I can usually get them devouring frozen mysis and pulped oyster flesh in a few days to a week.

Personally, I'd just give the peppermints time.

 

[rjcranor]

So far I have only seen 1 of the 2 that I bought last week. The first 1sermon I got a month ago died right away. Right now I have a mated pair of percula clowns and a green chromis. The peppermint shrimp just started making a appearance a couple of days ago.

 

[rjcranor]

Plus I have never done drip acclimation, I just gradually add water to the bag.

 

[JSeymour]

Go buy 3-5 more peppermints. I lone peppermint will always be shy and can't eat a big Aiptasia by its self. A big Aiptasia can eat the shrimp actually. While they are young, they will live together fine, but like most shrimp, once they are adults, the dominate pair will kill off the subordinates. No biggy as they will have long eaten all the Aiptasia, and a pair will keep any new ones you may introduce in check.

BTW, shrimp should always be slowly acclimated, as salinity, pH, and alkalinity changes can kill them quick (like your first one maybe?).

 

[rjcranor]

Thanks

 

[albano]

keep in mind, that the only Peppermint shrimp that eat aiptasia, are Caribbean Peps...the Pacific Peps do not!

 

[rjcranor]

You would think that people would tell you that when you say that is what you need them for. I'm not sure where these are from?

 

[JSeymour]

I haven't seen Pacific Peppermints listed on any major wholesaler lists in a couple years, everyone is ordering Atlantic. You can ask your lfs, they are listed as such when they order them, but they are likely Atlantic.

Of course you can always try and get your lfs to "train" them for you. They do it on their own, but at my store, we only feed them Aiptasia, so they devour it.

Two old, crappy videos of me feeding them. You can see how they work in groups to get the Aiptasia to retract, being stung all the while, then they feed.

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gRA7m9_6s04?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CPb3KIW4kXg?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[rjcranor]

Well my other peppermint shrimp showed up so I have 2 now but haven't seen them eating the aptasia,they have been coming out and eat when I feed my fish.

 

[ruckusman]

I'm qt'ing a copperband now in hopes he will help with aiptasia. I seem to have some special breed of it that paste won't kill and neither will the majano wand. The more I try to paste them, the more they spread. I have a 150 dt. I really don't care if he nips at my frogspawn or zoo's, they are big colonies as long as he will help with the aiptasia.

Any experience mixing peppermint shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. Got a cleaner in there now.

 

[ruckusman]

oh, took me about a week but I got him interested in food with artic pods now he is devouring mysis. No signs of ich or velvet.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I'm qt'ing a copperband now in hopes he will help with aiptasia. I seem to have some special breed of it that paste won't kill and neither will the majano wand. The more I try to paste them, the more they spread. I have a 150 dt. I really don't care if he nips at my frogspawn or zoo's, they are big colonies as long as he will help with the aiptasia.

Any experience mixing peppermint shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. Got a cleaner in there now.

I have 2 cleaner shrimp and 3 peppermint shrimp and they get along fine. EAch group has staked out its territory where they mostly stay, but there are no conflicts when one wanders into the territory of the other group.

 

[Blueline12]

If a copper band won't eat try starting it off with frozen blood worms. That usually gets them going and after a few days of that they will begin to eat mysis. If not try live black worms to get them started. I have had my copper band for a good 2-3 years and it's doing great. Good luck.

 

[snorvich]

If a copper band won't eat try starting it off with frozen blood worms. That usually gets them going and after a few days of that they will begin to eat mysis. If not try live black worms to get them started. I have had my copper band for a good 2-3 years and it's doing great. Good luck.

Also, clams on the half shell.