Large Flame Hawk VS Copperband Butterfly

[Jyetman]

Need a fish that will keep pesky yellow polyps and aptasia in check. Thinking about trying a Copperband butterfly but afraid a 80 gallon tank might be to small and my large mean flame hawk would become a big mistake? Any suggestions?

 

[Jyetman]

Does anyone have a large flame hawk successfully living with a copperband?

 

[Kies1]

I have an established copper band in a 90 gallon. Added a flame hawk 6 months ago and now if the copperband gets close to its home it is now lunging at the copperband, worse at feeding time.

 

[Jyetman]

I have an established copper band in a 90 gallon. Added a flame hawk 6 months ago and now if the copperband gets close to its home it is now lunging at the copperband, worse at feeding time.

Good to know love my flame hawk but man are they mean suckers!

 

[snorvich]

And what is worse, the copperband may not touch the aiptasia.

 

[johnike]

And what is worse, the copperband may not touch the aiptasia.

This.
A Raccoon Butterfly is guaranteed though!

 

[snorvich]

This.
A Raccoon Butterfly is guaranteed though!

Yes, they eat them like candy.

 

[johnike]

Yes, they eat them like candy.

The other day I took a rock from the sump that had a few dozen on it and gave it to him.
He thought it was his birthday!

 

[eatbreakfast]

And what is worse, the copperband may not touch the aiptasia.

But when it has finished them will move on to coral.

 

[Jyetman]

Maybe I should bite the bullet and buy some Berghia nudibanches for aptasia eradication. Just don't know what to do about these yellow polyps now on same huge rock creeping closer and closer to other corals.

 

[snorvich]

But when it has finished them will move on to coral.

Yes, the ones that seem to like aiptasia also seem to like corals. Sigh. However I have had two that would not touch aiptasia but also liked coral.

 

[Kies1]

maybe I got lucky as mine ate all the aptasia and has left coral alone.

 

[snorvich]

maybe I got lucky as mine ate all the aptasia and has left coral alone.

Luck of the draw. But that could change too.

 

[Kies1]

Luck of the draw. But that could change too.

Yes it could but love that fish. Lol.

 

[South City]

I bought a peppermint shrimp to handle a mild outbreak of aptasia in my tank. It was all gone within a week and hasn't come back. The shrimp hasn't bothered any of my other coral since.

 

[mattgumaer]

Love my copperband. Definitely controls aptasia. Have them in sump and overflow but none in display tank. Don't think it bothers my coral. What kind of corals do they typically bother?

Matt

 

[Kies1]

Love my copperband. Definitely controls aptasia. Have them in sump and overflow but none in display tank. Don't think it bothers my coral. What kind of corals do they typically bother?

Matt

Likewise for me

 

[Jyetman]

What about my flame hawk will he kill a copperband?

 

[Kies1]

What about my flame hawk will he kill a copperband?

No way to tell for sure, as is said mine just started to show aggression to only the copperband. Not to sure why not any other fish. My copperband is also larger than my hawk fish.

 

[Jyetman]

No way to tell for sure, as is said mine just started to show aggression to only the copperband. Not to sure why not any other fish. My copperband is also larger than my hawk fish.

Think I'm going to avoid adding a copperband seems to risky and try aptasia eating nuddis instead.