My new Copperband Butterfly...

[Paul B]

pheel, copperbands are one of the fish that are caught with cyanide but I don't think that was his problem, they don't usually last five weeks in that condition but it's hard to say. I have had them for over two years when they just died for no reason that I can figure out. Copperbands are noted for that.
Paul

 

[raddogz]

For the cyanide reason is why I wanted to get an Australian Copperband specifically a Mueller's Copperband - net caught fish. You will pay a premium but I think it's worth it if you can afford it.

 

[pheel]

Paul, so if a CB died without any obvious reason after 2 years, that is another reason not to buy those fish. They die without obvious reason, they sometime refuse food and they are cyanide caught

Sad but true.

 

[Paul B]

Pheel, I personally would not buy any fish that I have not seen eat. I also usually keep copperbands and all fish over two years.
(One was 18)
If you visit some of the places where these fish are collected you may be surprised at the conditions they are kept in and how some of them are caught. The ones that are not sold are often eaten. I have seen lookdowns, tangs, angels and moray eels for sale for $2.00 a pound.
I try to buy net caught fish but no matter what they are advertised, it is pot luck. I also research any fish that I am not sure about. I recently went on a diveing trip to Tahiti mainly to learn about moorish Idols. I have seen every fish that I have now in the sea at one time or another. (except my bluestripe pipe fish) I try to see what it is eating and if it is living in mated pairs. I also try to pass this information on to other aquarists and aquariums.
You can only try, sometimes you will get stuck. Many times I bought a fish only to have it die in a few days, should I abandon the hobby? I also eat fish almost every day and I know that for every pound of fish I eat there were hundreds of trash fish that were killed and discarded. It is what it is.
Have a great day.

Paul :beer:

 

[pheel]

Paul

You are lucky to see them in the wild, I have done snorkeling in a reef once in Cuba and it was great

I usually don't get a fish (or coral) if I'm not convinced that I can offer him a place were he can thrive and obviously you do the same. I'm still a little bit disapointed and discouraged about my lost.

You right, it is what it is, for the fish collectors it is a product like another one.

 

[raddogz]

Well, I went to our lfs and bought black worms, bloodworms, & plankton.

Merlin - took a passing glance at the plankton (he could care less for mysis - p.e or not) tried and spit some of it out. The black worms were of somewhat interest, but as they were on the skinny side he wasn't all that excited. The bloodworms on the other hand was a different story, he actively hunted down every bit he could find.

He still likes scallops, but certainly not with the same fervor.

 

[Freed]

Paul B, will the bloodworms be sufficient in place of black worms? I can't find any black worms here in the city. Might be able to find some bloodworms though.

 

[Paul B]

Pheel, I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to SCUBA in so many places. I am older than most here and I live on an Island (long Island NY) When I was in Viet Nam you get one week off for R&R (rest and relasation) I chose Australia which was a good choice because as a kid one of my dreams was to SCUBA in Australia. That was my first dive and I have been diving since.

Freed I don't know if any studies have been made on the nutritional benefits of various worms but I would imagine blood worms are just as good. You can only try them and see.
Blackworms,
Don't forget, you must feed these things

 

[Freed]

Paul, I will hopefully be getting some of these in tomorrow at a local fish store. Is RO/DI water OK to use to rinse these guys with on a daily basis or will plain tap water do? I know you say the temp has to be 40-50' or so. Also will ZOE do instead of Selcon? I can't find any Selcon locally at the moment. Thanks, Jeff

 

[Freed]

Got some "black worms" today but I noticed that outside of the ball of worms and in the tank they are a brown/red color. Is that the color they are supposed to be or are they totally black when they are alone by themselves? I missed the part about the air stone. Will they be OK without one just as long as the water is changed two times a day or is an air stone a must for them to live? My copperband ate every one of them that I put in the tank. He got really fat and I actually decided not to put anymore in the tank for fear that he might explode. Thanks, Jeff

 

[Paul B]

Freed I didn't say the water should be 40-50 degrees, I said cool room temperature. You can keep them cooler but then they won't eat and they may lose some nutritional value. Just my opinion of course, I never tasted one.
They are brownish red, I don't know why they call them blackworms. If you keep them about 65 degrees like I do you need an airstion. If you keep them somewhat cooler you don't
Paul

 

[Freed]

OK, yeah you didn't say 40-50' that was the site in the link on the previous page. I have mine in the fridge right now at about 43' so they should be OK then. My CBB is fat with a capital PH after eating the worms today. Thanks for the heads up on them.

What about using the ZOE instead of the Selcon to feed them with? Will that be sufficient? Thanks, Jeff

 

[Paul B]

Jeff, as I said, don't fed them if they are in the fridge. They will not eat. If you want to feed them to make them plump and big, keep them at about 65 degrees or room temperature, not too warm or they will die.
You can probably feed them ZOE but I would still mix a little Selcon with it. I think it is better for the fish eating them but it is probably not that importank. Like I said, I did not do any studies on worm nutrition, it is just from my experimenting and observation.
Paul

 

[Torno]

My CBB is fat with a capital PH after eating the worms today

Some guys get all the luck..... :sad1: :sad1:

 

[Freed]

I also have the salinity down to 19 so just a little ways to go to get it to 11-12. I hope I don't have one that will die in a few weeks though. The last one I had did just that. This is the best luck I have had so far with them. Not out of the woods yet so I am still keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[raddogz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6812759#post6812759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Torno
Some guys get all the luck..... :sad1: :sad1:

Not if you see some of the hoops Torno had to jump through to get his to eat.

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

I used to have one in my old 46 bowfront and it was eating, healthy and happy for about 2 months untill one night it got sucked onto my powerhead Poor thing......

 

[Flipturn88]

I have one that loves to eat almost anything (minus corals and clams, thankfully). Here she is:

Queen of the tank

 

[Torno]

Well mine finally died, . What can I say? I know in my heart I tried every thing I could to get him to eat. I wont give up though. This was my favorite marine fish and still is, just hope I have better luck next time.

 

[fishykid9212]

Mine died,too He ate a little when I got him but the next day I woke up and he was absoluteley covered in ich. I tried everything to save him but it was very bad and too late. I am never going to try one of these again I'm going to go for a different fish.