Copperband Butterfly lifespan?

[FatherDougal]

My Copperband Butterfly fish died yesterday without warning. I was wondering what the expected lifespan of these fish is in an aquarium?

I don't know how old the fish was when I got it but it died just a month short of 6 years in my tank.

 

[sunfish11]

Sorry to hear about your Copperband. From experiences I have read on this site and from talking to other reefers and experts, yours lived for a long time in comparison to many others. Many reefers have reported them dieing suddenly between 6 months to 1 year even when eating well. I was concerned when mine reached the year mark for that reason. I am now at 2 years. I am also very interested to know how long some successfull CBB owners have kept them.

Lisa

 

[Zaita]

6yrs+ Is very good. Mine is quickly approach the 1yr mark and I hope to keep it for many more years. Definitely my favourite fish as far as character.

What did you feed the fish to keep it healthy?

 

[JamesJR]

3 years in my hands was the record, but I gave mine away to a friend.

6 years is truly exceptional.

 

[FatherDougal]

What did you feed the fish to keep it healthy?

Nothing unusual - mostly frozen krill and artemia. Of course he was always scavenging in the live rock for pods. He ate all the aiptasia in the first week or so.

 

[dodger1v]

I'm going on 3 years with my CBB. I feed mine PE mysis and she's always picking at the rocks eating baby aiptasia or pods.

 

[Wind]

Variety diet would help.

Lots of people crack open muscles, clams for them.

 

[JamesJR]

I think they should be able to live at least 8-9 years, possibly even more than that but it is hard to do that in an aquarium.

 

[fishtankpete1]

copperband butterfly fish

copperband butterfly fish

My copperband is now 12 years old and will eat anything except flake, he's the greediest fish in the tank, does anyone know of an older one.

 

[Kies1]

3 plus on mine and eating mysis shrimp and always scavenging tank. I have let aipatasia run wild in my sump so I am sure they are finding their way into main display as a secondary food source.