Copperband stress behavior

[John Helm]

I recently added a copperband butterfly fish to my 90 gal sps display tank that’s been running for 7 years. I received the fish from a trusted friend who is very meticulous with his quarantining procedures and overall husbandry, so no I didn’t quarantine this fish. It went from his display tank to mine with proper acclimation. The fish was with him for months and ate frozen mysis and other foods. None of my fish bothered him except for a yellow tang for the first day, but after I put a mirror against the front of the tank, he stopped with the bullying. It’s been three days with the copperband in my tank, and now all he does is swim up and down against the glass on one side of the tank like he’s trying to get out. None of the fish are bothering him at all, but he’s lost interest in food. I do have a 40 breeder tank with live rock running, but it’s been months since I’ve had a fish in there. If all the water parameters (including phosphate, nitrate, nitrite & ammonia) check out, should I put him in that tank or will he finally settle down in your experience? I don’t want to cause more stress by moving him again, but he’s obviously under stress at the moment. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. I had a copperband before and he did well until the heater malfunctioned, so I do have experience getting them to eat and flourish. Thanks.
John

 

[Deinonych]

Sounds like he is stressed by the new environment. Give him time to settle in with a routine and he'll be fine.

 

[Sounds Fishy]

I sense something in your aquarium is irritating and/or stressful.Does it have a lot of LR and places to hide.I have a small CBB,with a Moorish Idol,and 2 yellow Tangs.He is a little trooper,nothing seems to upset him.Try some oysters and other tempting food to stimulate it.

 

[John Helm]

Thanks for the advice. There is plenty of live rock and places to hide, and none of the other fish are disturbing him at all. I just shut the lights off and covered the tank to get him to calm down a bit. Let's see if that works.

 

[lionfish300]

Any better news?

 

[John Helm]

He seems to be a bit better. He ate a little mysis today and doesn't seem to be as frantic. He's still hanging out in the same area and doing the same behavior but not as bad.