Copperband Butterfly and BTA nems

[ItsTheNano]

Current tank info: 60 gl 48x15x17
Livestock:
- 3 clowns
- six line
- yellow tang

Im looking to add a copperband but i have been doing research & seems like they will go after anemones. I have two BTAs & im wondering if they would be
Endangered, both nems are about 4" when open. The clowns are hosted by the nems so i figure if the copperband tries to go after the nems the clowns will fight it off. I just want to make sure before i head out to look for a copperband.
Should i get tje copperband or stay without it?

 

[mcfa2403]

I would stay without, they can be difficult to get eating and established in a tank and the livestock you have is rather aggressive. Even if the clowns fight off the butterfly it likely wont recover well from the hostility and yellow tangs can be aggressive to other large fish. Even if the butterfly leaves the nems alone I just don't see it surviving.
Just my 2 cents

 

[ItsTheNano]

I would stay without, they can be difficult to get eating and established in a tank and the livestock you have is rather aggressive. Even if the clowns fight off the butterfly it likely wont recover well from the hostility and yellow tangs can be aggressive to other large fish. Even if the butterfly leaves the nems alone I just don't see it surviving.
Just my 2 cents

Hmmm i might stay away from it. A friend of mine has an established copperband he is going to sell soon so i was considering it. Is there a safer/better fish you would recommend that is similar to the copperband?

 

[Aussieiniowa]

Pyramid butterfly? From what I have read there a great reef tank butterfly fish if your still wanting one

 

[Anemone12]

I had a copperband and my BTA actually ate it... I don't know what happen but they are def. picky eaters.

 

[RobH]

I've had a couple copper bands over the years. They never bothered my BTA. They did decimate my feather duster population and aiptasia. Other than they that they were peaceful and never bothered anything and had great personalities.

The problem I see is they can be such finicky eaters and you may struggle to find something he will eat! If you do buy one, ask the store, or friend in your case, to feed him in front of you, and see if he eats, and find out what they feed him. Also keep in mind you will probably want to upgrade in tank size for a fully grown CB, they can get large and active!

If I find another one that I observe eat and is healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, I love those fish!

best of luck,
Rob

 

[Hal]

I've had a couple copper bands over the years. They never bothered my BTA. They did decimate my feather duster population and aiptasia. Other than they that they were peaceful and never bothered anything and had great personalities.

The problem I see is they can be such finicky eaters and you may struggle to find something he will eat! If you do buy one, ask the store, or friend in your case, to feed him in front of you, and see if he eats, and find out what they feed him. Also keep in mind you will probably want to upgrade in tank size for a fully grown CB, they can get large and active!

If I find another one that I observe eat and is healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, I love those fish!

best of luck,
Rob

+1 for everything said above.

I've had and currently have a CBB with RBTA's. No problems. In my experience, CBB's don't go after any type of larger anemone, including large aiptasia.

If you want the best chance of getting a CBB to eat, use live black worms. If they won't eat those, they're pretty much dead already. The only exception is the first couple of days after you put them into your QT.