how to get a copperband butterfly to eat

[ezhoops]

Finally got a copperband, about 1-2" and acts great and comes up to glass and doesn't have any ich. But hasn't eaten anything except feather dusters so far, hasn't eaten any frozen foods. I know I should have watched him eat before I purchased but I was looking more for a healthy fish (no ich).

I've heard that using a mussel shell or something like that can encourage them to eat. any tips on getting them to accept frozen foods?

 

[BlueCorn]

Food size is very important to them. Try offering a mix of different items. Brine, mysis, cyclopeeze....

Mussels and freshwater clams are frequently accepted by them as well.

 

[Billybeau1]

I recently had the same problem with a racoon butterfly. Would not eat a thing. I took the advice of someone on RC and went to the grocery store and bought some fresh mussels. Took em home, frozen them then thawed out and the fish ate like a pig. Soon after he was eating everything. Good luck.

 

[ezhoops]

I've been offering brine, mysis, and cyclopeeze along with pellet and flake

 

[namas]

Had same problem with mine once. Feeding something different every day with no luck.
Then bam he ate frozen blood worms.
That was what turn mine into an eater.
I have also heard mussels in the shell works too.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Make sure you have plenty of LR w/ pods. I have 2 in a 400 G tank. I've never really seen them eat much as far as the pellets I feed the tank but I always seem them cruising the rocks niping at them. They are fat and healthy so I know they are eating something. I use a small size pellet as I have a lot of small mouthed fish in the tank. I do occasionaly feed live brine or frozen brine thats been enhanced with vitimans and such.

Good luck with them.