Copperband Bttrfly

[hanas]

I want to know what experiences any of you have had with this fish, I'm thinking about adding one to my tank. What type of tankmates did you house your's with, corals, etc.

 

[TCU Reefer]

These fish are notorious for being very finicky eaters. They are considered to be one of the reef safe butterflies but it's not guaranteed.

I have one in quarantine right now (second day in there) and it hasn't shown any interest in eating.

I'm tring a variety of foods such as PE mysis, frozen brine, cyclopeeze. If he doesn't eat today, I will have to try different foods starting with live brine.

Some has stated that they have had luck feeding fresh mussels, clams, and live black worms.

As I stated previously, these fish are 50/50. Do a search through the reef fishes forum and you will find hundreds of threads anwering this same question.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I had a pair in my 400G tank with a varaity of different fish in there. None of them ever bothered them. For the most part, they would pick at the rocks for their food. I would occasionaly see them eat small pellet food that I feed the tank. As stated, they are very finicky eaters and normaly only pick from the LR in the tank.

I lost one of them to I beleive a sting from my rabbit fish. The other one is still doing great however.

 

[eskymick]

Over the years I've tried several times to keep a copperband. I could never get one to become a good eater, and they eventually wasted away and died.

I may have lucked out last week. My LFS got two in a shipment last week. One of them showed a strong interest in eating .. right out of the box.

I took him home on Thursday and put him in quarantine. He's been eating everything I want him to eat ... live blood worms ... live brine .. and frozen mysis. And he eats heartily. He chases the food in the current . . and he explores all the nooks and crannies in the tank for every last bit of it.

It looks like he has a few bumps and scrapes from handling and shipping, but IMO he has a strong will to live.

I think it's important to find one that eats right away. It says something about the animal's "personality" and will to survive.

Good luck.

 

[Serioussnaps]

I used piscene energetics enriched with garlic, selcon and zoe...has only eaten it and been in my tank for 2 years..

They are also delicate and dont like to be bullied by aggressive fish....ie tangs...every tang i tryed to keep with him bullied him into a corner of the tank so i got rid of them...(i only have a 55 G and a 90 that was in the 90, but now only a 55 up and running)

House with him is a single clown...soon to be a pair.....and a 6 line wrasse

Mine takes a liking to cleaner shrimp...

something else i noticed that brought me success is a refugium loaded with amphipods and particularly loaded with mysids..(feed the well and they become a nutritious food for the CBB)

My CBB was the first one i tryed and still got him....i put a couple hours a day for about 5 days into getting him to eat and he finally took the mysiss(piscene energetics) and has been off and running since(as i said a fuge will really help you especially if it is loaded)

i just read you have a 75 g ....wouldnt put anything very aggressive in with him in that size tank.....or anything that will outcompete him

 

[Serioussnaps]

takes a liking to cleaner shrimp.......

---i didnt mean he likes to eat the shrimp but likes to be cleaned of dead skin particularly at night

 

[hanas]

yeah, the LFS I would be purchasing mine from doesn't sell them unless they are eating well.

I'm not concerned as much about him not eating, just about how they are compatibility wise.

I'm mostly concerned about adding him with a 3" yellow tang, anyone have any experiences with this?

 

[thor32766]

yeah mine loves the cleaner shrimp cleaning him to. i have had mine for over a year. Love this fish, the best tip in these fish, never buy one till you seem him eat at the LFS!

 

[hanas]

thor32766, is yours in the 220 or your 90?

Would my 75G be too small for one?

 

[carman9941]

i just got mine about a week ago he is in with a 3.5 in. yellow tang the tang moved him along for a day but they seem to get along ok now, I see the cbb pick at the rocks all the time and he did a number on my small feather dusters but he wont eat much of anything else. he will suck the food in his mouth and spit it back out

 

[thor32766]

hes in my 90. i have a buddy who has one in a 75 and does fine. make sure you have some live rock and make extra sure that the cbb is eating in the store. never take one home unless he is eating in the store.

 

[hanas]

ok, thanks. I've got about 100lbs of LR, with plenty of caves.

Thanks for your advice, it's greatly appreciated.