Copperband butterfly won't eat anything..

[jhoff]

I purchased a copperband butterfly last week. HE has been in my quarantine tank for 8 days now and won't eat anything. I tried rod's reef/PE mysis/spectrum pellets/tried live black worms today and still no luck.the fish looks healthy and swimming ok.Should i put him in the DT it's a 5year old established tank wilh lots of LR and pods.Or just wait till he starts eating..

 

[pookstreet]

Wow, the live blackworms didn't work? Mine went nuts for them the first time it was offered. The PE mysis is probably too big. I've also seen mine take frozen brine. Don't put a whole lot in at the same time. They seem to like the movement of the blackworms but they seem to die pretty quickly once they are in the tank. My CBBs seem to go for the live one more than the dead ones but will eat them if they are hungry. Just squirt a few in at a time and keep enticing him. The best thing is to get it to eat in the QT and treat before putting it in the DT. Good luck.

 

[sbtdark]

When I purchase Copperbands, I make sure they are eating in the LFS, if not, he won't be coming home with me. Hit or miss with them.

Goodluck

 

[snorvich]

Try clams on the half shell.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I would try live clam and live brine shrimp and keep trying the blackworms. I wouldn't move it to your DT. Make sure you have no ammonia in the QT.

There is a large thread in this forum on cbbs. Unfortunately, it is common for them not to eat and just die. It is likely due to poor collection and/or transportation.

I hope yours pulls through.

 

[Pylos]

Try clams on the half shell.

Yup, that's how I got mine to eat. Go to the asian market and buy "Manila Clams." Open one up, clean it out with water and drop it in the tank.

Good luck!

 

[sanchoy]

If they don't eat blackworms or clams. but reality is more then likely it was chemically caught and will die. Good luck.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Keep him in the QT; you did the right thing starting him there. Contrary to what a lot of folks seem to think, a fish isn't "happier'' in a DT. CBs are tough fish to acclimate and the competition and harassment (CBs like quiet surroundings) in the DT would just make acclimation tougher. Also, there could easily be something wrong with this fish that could spread to all your fish. We always watch for parasites in a QT, but I'm sure fish can have all sorts of unknown (and contagious) problems; just like people and other animals. MY CB didn't eat for 7 days, and I really don't think you're at the crisis point yet (getting there). I agree with the above posters; if he won't eat blackworms, live brine, or fresh clam---he isn't ready to eat anything. IMO, moving him will just make his problem worse. Unfortunately, a lot of CBs never do adjust to captivity.

 

[d0ughb0y]

ask the place where you got it from what they feed, then feed the same thing.
when I got mine, I started with live brine shrimp, then switched to various frozen food after a couple weeks.