Help Copperband...

[rydr119]

So I admit I have an aptasia problem in my tank, and I know that copperbands eat aptasias most of the time. Knowing this I still didn't want a copperband in my tank. I have read how they don't do that well and if they do eat well they tend not to live for very long anyway. So my boyfriend being the genius that he is bought one for me yesterday. Of course the LFS doesn't do returns or trades on livestock so I am out of luck. It's not likes its even a small one it's a full grown adult which is big. Its now the biggest fish I have. I am worried it will eat my corals, is this concern warranted? Or am I over reacting? If it does eat all my aptasias what else should I feed it when they are all gone? Are they aggressive towards other fish? I have no idea how to care for this fish any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Gina

 

[JM68]

chances are it will pick at anything with polyps.

 

[Laddy]

I'd say there's a greater chance of it picking at corals before it touches the aptasia--if it decides to eat at all. A LFS not doing returns on live stock which won't survive in your enviornment is grounds for black listing.

 

[rydr119]

I never buy anything from this store anyways. I don't like the way they house their stock. I don't know what would have possessed him to get this fish. Do you think I should try feeding blood worms?

 

[jda]

Not even half of them will ever eat aiptasia. You need to hope that your tank has enough pods/worms to feed it until you can get it eating mysis shrimp and other meaty foods.

I have had mine almost a year and it still doesn't eat mysis very often.

I have never had one eat any coral. It will eat decorative worms.

 

[rydr119]

Its been eating all the little feather dusters that grow all over the place in my tank. I don't have any other pod eaters in my tank and I do have tons of them, I see them all over the rocks and in my fuge. As long as it stays away from my corals I will keep it. I am gonna do my best to get it to eat frozen foods. I just feel sorry for it, I know they don't make great additions b/c of their finicky nature.

 

[jda]

You can also try live clams/mussels. Break them open with a screwdriver and drop them in.

 

[JM68]

when i had one the only thing it would eat, other than my decorative feather dusters, was blood and black worms. idk if its the shape of the worms or the way they moved in the water, but thats all it would eat when i fed the tank.

 

[johnike]

I got lucky and got one 6 weeks ago,and it's mowing down the Aiptasia.Give her a chance,mine doesn't touch any Zoos,LPS,or clams.Model citizen and georgous fish! John

 

[SkyPapa]

Mine went straight for the aips also and doesn't so after SPS, LPS or mushrooms .

 

[rydr119]

Well its day 2 and so far it hasn't touched any of my corals, but it hasn't touched my aiptasias either, just the little feather dusters that grow all over the place have been victims so far. I found someone locally who is looking for one so if I start to see any problems I'm gonna give it to him.

 

[rydr119]

Ok so good news I fed my tank today and it ate some mysis, and brine shrimp plus.