copperband butterfly

[sammie]

I've heard it's hard to get them to live long term because of their diet. Be careful

 

[64Ivy]

I've had mine over three years and it's still kickin'. C. muelleri from Austrailla though.

 

[FishNutzBoi]

64Ivy, that is one awesome CCB!!!

 

[rsxs1212]

yeah that has some awesome coloration

 

[Paul B]

I really don't know how many I have had but I am sure I had a couple of dozen. They are about my favorite fish but I can't get them to live ten years like most fish, usually 5 or 6 years.
They eat worms, any type of worms thats why they have those mouths. I feed mine every day (better twice or three times a day) live black worms along with other things like sponge, clam, plankton etc.
I have never had one that ate corals but copperbands are not like most fish. They have a personality closer to moorish Idols in that each fish has it's own personality. You coulkd have ten of them all different. Some will eat anything, some nothing, some will grow hugh some will stay the size you got them at no matter how long you keep them.
Here is mine.
Paul

The top picture here is one of their close cousins, long nost butterfly, almost the same fish.
This one is enjoying Tahiti with "Clemintine" the Hawksbill turtle.

 

[sunfishh]

Ivy that is the best looking CCB I have ever seen

 

[ColeBC]

I've had a CBB for about 9 months. She ate all my feather dusters and also my hawaiian one. She was really small when I got her and now she's about 3" long.
She doesn't touch any of my corals and eats all the frozen foods I give my fish. I just think you have to feed them 2 or 3 times a day.
I had to take my green open brain out because she started picking on it a bit. I think she was just looking for pods etc and didn't mean to hurt the coral. Every time I put my hand in the tank to clean, she swims between my fingers and eats pods that come out of the rocks when I clean.

Cole

 

[rsxs1212]

anyone have any problems with anemones being picked at?

thanks for all the help everyone you have made my choice much easier

 

[TCU Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7747047#post7747047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 64Ivy
I've had mine over three years and it's still kickin'. C. muelleri from Austrailla though.

Very nice.

So is that the difference between the Australian and the Indo Pacific, the markings?

 

[ColeBC]

I have 4 anemones and she's never touched any of them.

 

[64Ivy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7747924#post7747924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TCU Reefer
Very nice.

So is that the difference between the Australian and the Indo Pacific, the markings?

The Muellers Copperband is an entirely different (sub)species. The more commonly seen C. rostratus is found in both places and looks pretty much the same whether from the Indo-Pacific or Australia. The difference, according to several articles I've read, is that the Australian variety of C. rostratus usually comes in hardier because they are not collected with cyanide while some Indo-Pacific specimens still are.

The Muelleri is endemic to Australia, hence no danger of poisoning ever. Unfortunately, they are only imported to the US very infrequently.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words by the way. Here's another picture for you.

 

[TCU Reefer]

Thanks for the very informative info 64Ivy.

I've never got a straight answer to that question.

 

[Artik]

My copperband was eating well, but then after two weeks or so just refused to eat and slowly wasted away. Not sure why? Was quite reef safe though, but picked at some zooanthids + lobo's.

 

[Psyire]

Are there any reports of them eating pellets?