Copperband Butterfly Not Eating

[ChrisBuono]

My new Copperband Butterfly isn't eating. I've had him for three days. During that time, I've seen him eat maybe two pieces for frozen mysis (soaked in Selcon). He's hunting well during the day, but he seems to have zero interest in the aiptasia in my tank. He also looked right past the one attempt I made with bloodworms.

Any suggestions?

 

[ajn81]

Mine had some trouble eating frozen mysis at first so I tried frozen brine and he went to town. Slowly started mixing in mysis and he started eating those as well. He won't touch bloodworms.

 

[ajn81]

Also forgot to mention that it took him a week or two, but he slowly started taking out aiptasia in my tank as well. Now, if I take one out of my fuge and put it in the DT he downs it immediately.

 

[d0ughb0y]

Try feeding live brine shrimp. That's how I trained mine to eat the frozen mysis by slowly mixing in a few frozen one until after a week or so the CB was just eating the frozen mysis.

 

[pmrossetti]

Try feeding live brine shrimp. That's how I trained mine to eat the frozen mysis by slowly mixing in a few frozen one until after a week or so the CB was just eating the frozen mysis.

+1
live brine mix, can't resist it

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

In addition to the live brine, try live blackworms. Many butterflyfish like them and they are more nutritious than the brine.

If those don't work, try picking up some fresh clam and mussel and offering that to the fish. Open the shell and put the meat in the tank in half of the shell so the fish can pick at it.

Here is some more information:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1492696&highlight=copperband

 

[aquaph8]

+1 to the blackworms and clam on the half shell. This is why Qt is important for these guys, its much easier to teach them to eat prepared foods in a controlled environment.

 

[ChrisBuono]

Thanks Guys! Great info!

 

[RadReefer]

Try earthworms if it likes the blackworms.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

4" one at the lfs today I had to fight hard to not get it for aptaisia control, but I feared my sohal would not like the addition.