Copperband Butterfly Primer

[preef]

I picked up my first CBB 2 days ago. He was eating frozine brine at the LFS. So far that is all he will eat in my tank. Just looks at mysis and Rod's. Won't go after cyclopeeze either. Started going after tube worms in the sand bed right away.

My problem is my Yellow Tang is harassing him quite a bit. Although the harassing is diminishing he pretty much stays in one spot because he is freaked out a little. Added a mirror to the side of the tank to distract the tang which helped quite a bit.

I've been feeding the brine with a turkey baster. He is no longer afraid of the baster and goes to the opening. The problem is all of the fish come to the baster and the CBB isn't aggressive enough and gets overwhelmed with the feeding frenzy. I try squirting some brine on the other side of the tank first which helps delay the frenzy.

Although he has been in the tank for only two days he seems to associate me with food already. As soon as I come to the tank he starts looking directly at me rather and swimming around more rather than just hanging out in the corner.

 

[seafansar]

It took my orange shoulder 4 days to accept the new CBB. Now they swim around together all the time.

Try putting some food in a mesh clip. Mine won't eat floating food (though he shows interest) except for PE mysis. But he will eat anything I put in the mesh clip.

A clip like this, but I put zip ties on the sides so the food doesn't fall out.

 

[tibob32]

So I just got my first copperband today. I had the LFS order it. It was pretty expensive, but it's a big healthy 2" specimen. It was picking at the LR over there. I put him in my SPS reef. He had some run-ins with the foxface, but nothing very bad. I'll make him a feeder tomorrow and try him on mysis. Wish me luck. Pics to come

The foxface and him are now best friends and share the same hiding cave (which was the cause of the first run-ins) As for food, I made a feeder which was a big failure; hermits and punk cleaner shimps enjoyed it though. That being said, I just tried to feed Buttercup (so much for letting my gf name him) mysis with the flow pumps off and he ate quite a couple of it floating in the water culumn. Things are looking good.

 

[carlosR]

That's o.k., Buttercup I mean, mine's named Beaky.....

 

[carlosR]

O.K. it's been 2 1/2 months that I have kept this fish. During that time he has survived and thrived on live bloodworms, aptaisia (all gone now), and various foods he finds in the live rock and substrate. He does pursue the later with abandon and seems to enjoy hunting for whatever most of the day. The last two days I have seen him eating small bits of frozen (unthawed of course) foods out of the water column. I think we are turning a corner with my fish.

 

[Neoz]

Give him some time. My CBB has been with me 5 months. He is a model citizen. Eats frozen PE mysis and even battles my tangs for it. Quite the fat guy he is..

Seafansar were did you get a clip like that? That looks like a good idea..

 

[jbud2418]

I got mine to eat bloodworms from day one then mysis

 

[preef]

After almost a week mine is eating brine, mysis and Rod's. I started by feeding him with a turkey baster but is now also aggressively eating out of the water column. Yesterday I hand fed my blue throat trigger a piece of grocery store shrimp. My CBB was aggressively chowing down on that and eating out of my hand. Pretty cool.

The aggression between my YT and CBB has died down quite a bit. The YT gives it a little chase now and then but gives up after abut 6 inches of chase.

 

[tibob32]

I'm pleasently surprised with this fish. My hopes were up, but my expectations low with all the horror stories around. Anyways, he's been with me for 4-5 days and I don't even have to shut the circulation pumps to feed him anymore. He justy goes after the forzen mysis out in the open, which is remarcable if you keep in mind I have around 50x/h turnover. He's still not a very competive eater, but seeing how he progresses he'll soon be.

 

[preef]

I'm pleasently surprised with this fish. My hopes were up, but my expectations low with all the horror stories around. Anyways, he's been with me for 4-5 days and I don't even have to shut the circulation pumps to feed him anymore. He justy goes after the forzen mysis out in the open, which is remarcable if you keep in mind I have around 50x/h turnover. He's still not a very competive eater, but seeing how he progresses he'll soon be.

I've read multiple accounts of CBB being fine eating one day and then dead the next even after they've been in the tank and doing well for months. I know somebody that experienced the same thing with a CBB. Apparently this sudden CBB death isn't uncommon. So, right now I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[seafansar]

Seafansar were did you get a clip like that? That looks like a good idea..

I found that photo on Dr. Foster and Smith, but I got mine from a different site, I just forget what site.

 

[tibob32]

I've read multiple accounts of CBB being fine eating one day and then dead the next even after they've been in the tank and doing well for months. I know somebody that experienced the same thing with a CBB. Apparently this sudden CBB death isn't uncommon. So, right now I'm cautiously optimistic.

I've read that as well. I'm thinking it could be caused by malnutrition from only eating mysis. In the next week I'll try to wean my fish towards NLS pellets. Either that or parasites, I'll have to consider treating with prazipro. I've got a leopard wrasse who could use a preventive treatment too

 

[Lightsluvr]

DO CBB's usually bother Clams?

I have large Crocea and Maxima clams on the sandbed. My CBB doesn't look the slightest bit interested in them. In addition to the twice-daily feedings, the CBB does peck at the LR all day...

JME.

LL

 

[Seeing Green]

Thanks for all the info, mine is 3 weeks in and getting fatter by the day it seems (was slightly thin at the store)

Is taking mysis and eating the butterfly food sold at LFS.

Also is scavenging the rockwork for aptasia.

 

[jedheuer]

Hey guys,

I got a CBB in quarantine for 8 days now and he has developed black spots on his pectoral fins and tail. I thought at first that it might be black ich but it has not spread to anyother part of his body nor to any of the other fish in QT with him (anthias). Any ideas on what this might be? and should I treat it or let it resolve on its own? thanks!

 

[tibob32]

^ is he eating?

 

[jedheuer]

^ is he eating?

yes, he is eating quite well on mysis. I got black worms to but he is not that interested in them. he is somewhat interested in cyclops and clams but really chows on the mysis.

 

[carlosR]

I'd runthat one by the guys at wetwebmedia. They seem pretty helpful and knowledgeable on those strange maladies. Good luck and don't give up on this fish.

 

[Inklinkerman]

I had the same problem with my Y Tang. The CBB headstands to ward him off when he gets too touchy but they get on fine most of the time. The CBB is about 2" bigger though. I'm feeding mysis, brine + garlic, and king prawn not tried bloodworm. I also have copepods cultured for the cbb and mandarin. Was thinking about PE mysis. Is it totally complete nutritionally?

 

[kraut3253]

I picked up my CBB a couple of years ago. After a couple of stressful weeks of him not eating properly, I cut the QT short and dropped him in the reef tank. After 2 years, he's growing well and keeps the tank clear of pest anemones and feather dusters. Oddly enough he doesn't touch the christmas tree worms. I feed once per day and he eats with gusto. The food is a blenderized and frozen mix of clams, mussels, raw prawns, salmon, nori, cyclopeez and fish pellets. His tankmates are a yellow tang, a hippo tang, a yellow damsel, a sixline wrasse and a percula clown. He is ex-tankmates were an anthias and a orchid dottyback which recently died after 5 years in the tank. I did not see any any tankmate aggression beyond the typical day or so of newbie initiation.