How in the heck did some of you get yours eating flakes, and pretty much anything you put in there? My copper band pays absolutely no attention at all to flakes, pellets, frozen brine, mysis, bloodworms, etc. Its as if he doesn't even realize they are food! The only thing he will even eat is a mussel after I crack the shell open.....However, that he will eat from my hand, or as soon as I drop it in the tank, its like crack to him.....I just dont get it. He is my favorite fish, so I dont mind putting a mussel in just for him (although all my other fish love it too), but it would be nice if I could get him eating other stuff, to vary his diet some.
Copperband Butterfly Primer
- Thread starter BrianD
- Start date
carlosR
New member
Good call on the Lymphocystis. I was wondering about the size and shape of the cysts and that they are only on fins. I can understand that such a delicate fish would develop something like this. Do I want to surgically remove the cysts? Hey my wife is a vet and even then I wouldn't want her taking the fish and cutting away on him, not on my "Beaky" as he is know in the clinic! I guess it's one of those things he is just going to have to get over.
As for eating prepared foods, mine isn't. He loves the live worms and pokes at the live rock all day. I've seen him once poke at a frozen chunk. Maybe it's just a matter of time.
As for eating prepared foods, mine isn't. He loves the live worms and pokes at the live rock all day. I've seen him once poke at a frozen chunk. Maybe it's just a matter of time.
OneArmedBandit
New member
I recently purchased a Burgess Butterfly that had a lone Lymphocystis cyst on a fin, I scraped it off and introduced this fish to my QT. After 3 weeks in QT I added it to my display where the cyst came back. It got pretty big but then dissapeared after a week or so. It is eating like theres no tomorrow and I keep strict tabs on my water quality so I'm sure that helped the Burgess get over the Lympho.
As for my CBB that ate Mysis, pellet and flake; It was already eating all these items when I got it from a fellow reefer (very lucky I guess). -Steve
As for my CBB that ate Mysis, pellet and flake; It was already eating all these items when I got it from a fellow reefer (very lucky I guess). -Steve
carlosR
New member
Nothing really new to add but I wanted to update that my CBB is still alive, still only eating live worms but is fattening up on them. He does have the Lymphocystis virus that is obvious but it doesn't seem to be affecting him or other tankmates.
This is a very pleasurable fish, he is now learning to come towards me when I feed. I'm still crossing my fingers that he makes it but the signs are good so far. How are the rest of you doing?
This is a very pleasurable fish, he is now learning to come towards me when I feed. I'm still crossing my fingers that he makes it but the signs are good so far. How are the rest of you doing?
ecomdesign
New member
wow, what a read. I just got through all 14 pages and I just had an idea. Paul has mentioned many times that fish oil is very important for long term health. I like the mush recipe that was shared with us a few pages back and I was wondering if adding omega 3-6-9 to the mix would be of any benefit?
My wife keep a huge bottle of it in the fridge which she takes herself. It comes in a 1200mg gel cap. I was thinking of cutting the gel cap and adding the liquid to the mush before blending. If not 3-6-9, why not just a fish oil gel cap from a health food store?
My wife keep a huge bottle of it in the fridge which she takes herself. It comes in a 1200mg gel cap. I was thinking of cutting the gel cap and adding the liquid to the mush before blending. If not 3-6-9, why not just a fish oil gel cap from a health food store?
i got mine on sunday and till now it hasn't taken a bite yet. a small beauty of only about 2" length
its in a betta box in my display and i've tried frozen bloodworms, frozen mysis, frozen/live brine shrimp with no success. prepared foods also don't seem to make a difference.
it seems healthy, no visible spots or damage and is quite active at times. i can't get live blackworms, should i try tubifex?
any help would be appreciated!
its in a betta box in my display and i've tried frozen bloodworms, frozen mysis, frozen/live brine shrimp with no success. prepared foods also don't seem to make a difference.
it seems healthy, no visible spots or damage and is quite active at times. i can't get live blackworms, should i try tubifex?
any help would be appreciated!
kwpgrooming
New member
I read this entire thread twice before I bought my first ccb last Saturday. He seems to be doing well, and is eating brine shrimp and pe mysis. He may be eating other stuff I put in, but it is hard to tell because I mix it up. He is a slow eater. I don't think he has eaten an aiptasia yet. At least not the large ones. He did have some cauliflower on his tail and a spot on his eye, but my cleaner shrimp picked almost all of it off. The only problem I have had since getting him is my orange firefish won't come out of his hole.
carlosR
New member
Yes I would try live tubifex. I may be stretching it a bit here but I have kept many species of wild animals and the big thing is to get them comfortable in captivity. Why would the CBB be any different? So if they truly are worm eaters in the wild, we need to provide worms. If your fish will eat anything then praise the heavens! Otherwise any kind of wriggly things are to be tried. Sorry you lost a fish but keep trying. I'm determined to keep this fish and if I have to go through 20 of them, I will. Though my guy is doing fine so far. Today we saw him go through the cleaning station with my shrimp. It seemed he was doing this "coy" behavior with the shrimp then the shrimp didn't seem to want to do it. Interesting.
Interesting thread
Here is the CBB I am looking at getting right now he is still at the LFS
I have it on hold until tomorrow at which point I will only buy it if its responding to feedings..
<a href="http://eazypics.net/share.php?id=2B06_4B5BF3AB"><img src="http://eazypics.net/image.php?id=2B06_4B5BF3AB&jpg" border="0"></a>
I have a 125 gal DT well stocked with aiptasia and pods (there are 500 if there is one in there its almost overwhelming) hoping this guy can come live a happy life.
I am concerned about my QT as my QT tank is only 20 gallons currently home to about 15 lbs of live sand 15lbs of LR and 2 blue damsels (which can go back to FS or somewhere else if needed.
Will this QT work? To be honest I am tempted to put this fish directly in my DT. I was going to ask the LFS to keep it for another week or two.
Thoughts?
Here is the CBB I am looking at getting right now he is still at the LFS
I have it on hold until tomorrow at which point I will only buy it if its responding to feedings..
<a href="http://eazypics.net/share.php?id=2B06_4B5BF3AB"><img src="http://eazypics.net/image.php?id=2B06_4B5BF3AB&jpg" border="0"></a>
I have a 125 gal DT well stocked with aiptasia and pods (there are 500 if there is one in there its almost overwhelming) hoping this guy can come live a happy life.
I am concerned about my QT as my QT tank is only 20 gallons currently home to about 15 lbs of live sand 15lbs of LR and 2 blue damsels (which can go back to FS or somewhere else if needed.
Will this QT work? To be honest I am tempted to put this fish directly in my DT. I was going to ask the LFS to keep it for another week or two.
Thoughts?
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carlosR
New member
Just curious, how much were they asking? I paid $20 for mine and he's a big one. Still alive, eating worms like they are going out of style, not eating aptasia or prepared foods. He is exploring the tank and is always nosing around the live rock and gravel. At least he is adapting, the varied diet can come later.
My CBB has actually let the cleaner shrimp work on him. The lymphocystis seems to be decreasing in size on his tail fin.
My CBB has actually let the cleaner shrimp work on him. The lymphocystis seems to be decreasing in size on his tail fin.
kwpgrooming
New member
A week later my ccb is also doing well. He is eating well. I am feeding Pe mysis, omega enriched brine shrimp, marine cuasine, and emerald entree. Unfortunately live black worms are not available in my area, so I am considering special ordering them. None of my fish eat blood wroms so I don't bother polluting up my tank. I have been feeding more than usual to make sure he is getting enough to eat. I may start some bigger water changes. As far as aiptasia I think he is woking on them. Most of the small ones have disappeared and the larger ones are looking sickly so he must be picking at them even though I have not witnessed it. My cleaner shrimo is keeping the lymptocystis piced off. I pi $40 for mine. Livestock here I guess is a bit high. My hopes are high for him leading a healthy happy life. I try to get some pics.
