Copperband in my Reef?

[tripnbili]

I have a 75 mixed reef...specs in my sig.

Current Stock List:

1 x 2.5" Yellow Tang
2 x Purple Firefish
5 x Green Chromis
1 x 6-Line Wrasse
1 x Cleaner Shrimp
1 x Peppermint Shrimp


I'm adore the Copperband Butterfly, but have read about some risks involved. A few of which:

> May not accept prepared foods
> May have a liking for polyps
> May get beat up on


I guess I'm wondering what you fine people think about getting one. Would my bioload be acceptable? Is this insane:wildone: What would you do?

 

[eskymick]

They are rather timid and easily bullied when first introduced. With a yellow tang already established in your tank, I'd say your chances of success in adding a Copperband are slim.

If the Copperband was the FIRST inhabitant of your tank (given the listed livestock as co-inhabitants), I'd say YES.

 

[sedor]

I agree, a yellow tang and a copperband probably won't be good together. There are lots of other butterflies you might consider adding that take the captive life a lot better.

 

[tripnbili]

I should have mentioned the thought of moving my tang to the 30g sump (it's a breeder) for about a week so the copperband can become established....

thoughts??

 

[reef_doug]

I agree, a yellow tang and a copperband probably won't be good together. There are lots of other butterflies you might consider adding that take the captive life a lot better.

What are the other suggested butterflies?

 

[tripnbili]

What are the other suggested butterflies?

Ditto...

 

[theaquareef]

Possibly a pyramid? Although it is a bit yellow it might work. Your tank size is a minimum for one.

 

[snorvich]

Do you realize you are somewhat heavily stocked as it is? A copperband takes a while to settle in (if it will at all) so one week for the yellow tang in the sump may have little or no effect.

 

[tripnbili]

Do you realize you are somewhat heavily stocked as it is? A copperband takes a while to settle in (if it will at all) so one week for the yellow tang in the sump may have little or no effect.

Thank you....I guess the general concensus is not tovadd one. As a difficult as that may be, I appreciate the feedback and suggestions...

Thank you reefcentral!

 

[d0ughb0y]

think positive. if others can do it, then you can do it.

I just went through this and it worked out just fine. Just do a search here for yellow tang and copperband, and you will see many previous threads on how people do this.

first, make sure to ask lfs to show you the copperband is actually eating. then when you bring the copperband home, isolate it first and feed it the same stuff as in the lfs. then slowly mix in and switch to frozen stuff if what the lfs was feeding is live. in my case, the CBB was eating live brine, then I mixed in and slowly switched to frozen brine. This took 4 days, but I kept it for another day before I released it to display tank.

Then the yellow tang starts harassing the CBB, and it was going for the kill, trying to swipe it constantly with its spine. Then I read from an old post to put up a mirror. That exactly did the trick, as the yellow tang then got busy chasing its own image for the next two days. After that, they both swim along just fine, and the CBB is now just as aggressive as the other fish during feeding time.

CBB are really nice fish. Good luck.

 

[falconut]

I had a Yellow Tang for over 3 years in my 90 gallon and added a Copperband with no problems. So, it is possible. It depends on the fish. My YT always seamed very mellow and never bothered tank mates, but others definitely can. If you are willing to and able to move the YT for a while to allow the Copperband to settle in, then that would probably be best.

Now as far as the Copperband. I would recommend only getting one that you see eat. So many of them don't ever eat and die. I've had some that lived for 6 months and just one day stoped eatting and died the next day. I had my last one for a year. I would had feed him live blackworms every night to ensure he was getting enough food.

I had mine in with Zoas, Palys, Leathers, Kenyas, Xenia, Bubble Coral, Mushrooms, Shrimp, Hermits, Snails and didn't bother anything. But I added a 4" Maxima and both him and the YT started nipping it, so I sold both the YT and Copperband. So, mine didn't bother corals just the clam. HTH

 

[davocean]

The yellow tang does make it a gamble, and it already is a gamble w/out a yellow.
For years I tried a few w/out success.
I finally have one doing great right now, sure do love it, and aptasia is no longer a prob for sure, but there is a trade off.
ALL feather dusters are now gone, including a nice coco worm I had, but mine is eating prep'd like a pig, and I dig him, so I'm over it.
And I agree, a week in sump most likely won't cut it.
Now how attached are you to the yellow?
There are options...

 

[tripnbili]

Thank you for the last three responses...

My tang is quite mellow as far as tangs go (compared to others I see)...never seen him run off a tank mate, actually he is the most docile (other than the chromis)

I read somewhere that someone taped a picture of a copperband to the tank for a while before introducing one...maybe this helped the tang get used to it before it actually arrives?

 

[bennkrys01]

I'm thinking too about getting one. When I purchased the tank from the previous owner he had one in with a yellow tang, two regal tangs, a foxface and a few others. They all got along fine. Unfortunately the butterfly met its fate one night when it was sucked up to a powerhead. Now nearly 10 months later I have an outbreak of aiptasia and wondering too how much it would affect the rest of the tank.

 

[davocean]

Thank you for the last three responses...

My tang is quite mellow as far as tangs go (compared to others I see)...never seen him run off a tank mate, actually he is the most docile (other than the chromis)

I'd bet $$ as soon as you intro anything even close to shape and color you're going to witness a completely different attitude w/ that yellow, especially when the CBB starts picking at stuff, and the yellow sees it as food comp.

 

[blasterman789]

For the record, I've kept yellow tangs and copper bands together, and they initially ignored each other. Actually, after a time, the CB started turning funny colors and started dancing around the annoyed yellow tang in what I suspect was a courship dance. Believe me, I wish I had a video camera at the time (20yrs ago) because to this day other reefers don't believe me.

In retrospect and given my friends dismal experience with Copper bands I would disuade this fish from all but the most experienced reefers. They prefer a big tank, and are just unpredictable from specimen to specimen. If you insist on getting one to rid your tank of small aiptasia (and feather dusters) only buy a speciment that's been eating well at the LFS store for at least a week.

If you just have to have a butterfly, a yellow long nose is much hardier and has less diet issues.

 

[TampaReefer79]

They are rather timid and easily bullied when first introduced. With a yellow tang already established in your tank, I'd say your chances of success in adding a Copperband are slim.

If the Copperband was the FIRST inhabitant of your tank (given the listed livestock as co-inhabitants), I'd say YES.

Ditto.

 

[Nanook]

I would say if you want the CBB, then ditch the Yellow Tang first. Also, CBB are slow and deliberate eaters of mysis and blackworms only (if they eat at all). So, you will need to feed enough each time to make sure they get enough nutrition. Many folks around here have kept these in adequately sized tanks and starved them to death even when they were eating!! You need to make sure they get enough to eat by watching how much they take in each session.

They are a beautiful fish and if you get one that is eating, not diseased and not stressed by bully fish, then they can do wonderfully IF you see to their dietary needs. They are not an easy fish and will require daily feedings where they get what they need.

 

[tripnbili]

It's looking like my chances would be greatly improved if I "switched" the CBB for the YT...

I may try hanging a picture of a CBB to see what reaction I get from the YT first

 

[falconut]

tripnbili - I did the taping photo thing before adding one to my tank. I had seen a post where somebody else did it and I figured I'd try it. The YT noticed it, but didn't bother it. I will do this if I plan to add anything I figure might be an issue. It's easy to do, so it can't hurt.