Copperband Butterflyfish in SPS Tank

[hongl227]

I'm thinking of putting in a "Copperband Butterfly" in my SPS tank to control aiptasia. Is it safe?

 

[paszembe]

I have one in my tank, no problem at all. But it may, or may not eat aiptasia.

 

[plyle02]

Eating aptasia is good, but when that source of food goes away, will it convert to say Mysis, for example? I would make sure it eats in the store first, before taking home. I had good luck, unfortunately clams did not fair well, as the copperband I had, love to snack on clams. No nipping on sps though, FWIW... Best of Luck!

 

[bogg]

Yes and no for the reasons above you might consider a file fish instead though

 

[BrentH]

I have one for 2 years never bothered sps or Lps eats aptasia and I even have a bubble rose anemone with no probs love the fish

 

[hongl227]

Thanks for all the info

 

[Wazzel]

I had one in my 160 and it never bothered anything.

 

[rc1626]

If you can get your hands on live blackworms I'm sure it will eat those.

 

[zebrasoma82]

Might have a hard time competing for food in your tank. I used a turkey baster and squirted some live black worms in a crevice so you CBB can slowly pick at it. Mine does not bother any of my sps.

 

[Peter Eichler]

My last one I had for several years until a power outage. Never ate aiptasia or anything else for that matter, was healthy and fat simply scouring the tank for bristleworms and other morsels. The one I have now is going on a year and it's the same deal. Both eat/ate PE mysis but nothing else, not even other brands of mysis. HOwever, I feed mysis maybe a few times a year, so that isn't what sustains them. If you have a 150g+ tank with a good mix of fauna, it might not matter if they ever eat prepared foods.

 

[Nanighan]

Had one that was reef safe, and ate aiptasia. Luck of the draw. Feed it blackworms to make it fat.

 

[BrentH]

Live blackworms for most stubborn butterfly fish that won't eat I've noticed

 

[hongl227]

I bought one on last Sunday didn't eat anything in my QT...so yesterday I put him in my DT in a few minutes starting to eat my unwanted mini feather duster but didn't eat my aiptasia yet.

 

[bogg]

It will after those are gone

 

[FragShark]

I've had one for around 5 months it started out only eating bloodworms but after a few weeks started taking mysis. It has never bothered a coral SPS or otherwise

 

[trueblackpercula]

I too have been wanting to add one to my tank. I just don't want it to eat my blue maxima, any thoughts?

 

[Paul B]

I have been keeping them for decades and never had a problem with them bothering corals. They may nip at clams though and some of them have no interest in aiptasia.