Preparing a Copperband for the Reef

[Steve Atkins]

What methods have been used to ensure that a Copperband was eating prapared food prior to it's introduction to a reef tank?

What ultimate levels of success did they have?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Chibils]

You will be able to tell by quarantining it (highly recommended for any butterfly, especially delicate ones like cbb). Feed it small bits; if it accepts, then try to fatten him up a bit. As he becomes more comfortable, increase the current mildly. Get closer to simulating your reef environment. Once you feed that he's doing well, move him to your display. Monitor him very closely, and spot feed him with a turkey baster as necessary (this is where the close observation and comfortability around you become essential). They're very delicate, and like cowfish are slow feeders. CBB can do great in a reef provided that their specific needs (low to moderate flow, slower or passive tankmates, supplemental feedings as necessary) are met.

All that said, they're not guaranteed to be reef-safe. Good luck.

 

[Zaita]

Edit: Scratch that. Haha Hey Steve You should pop around and check out my CBB. Doing really well and has become quite plump.

-- Scott

For other people reading this. NZL Fish are QT'd for 3 weeks when bought into the country, to try and make them disease free. So we typically end up with healthy specimens.

I just threw the CBB into my tank and hoped it would mimic the feeding behaviour of my other fish. I also ensure that when feeding frozen food it's from within a small black net. All my fish associate the black net with food now.

My CBB is quite happy to get in the mix with the tangs (1 6" Hippo and 2 Scopas Tangs). It'll only eat frozen brine and spends the rest of the time grazing from the rockwork. Quite a smart fish, as it understands that after I feed spirulina for the other fish, I'll go and get the frozen brine for it and the Bangaii pair.

A really nice fish to have in the tank.

 

[Steve Atkins]

Forgot you had one.

Problem I have found is that once in the reef they ignore everything but what they find on the reef itself then when they finally run out of that they are no longer used to fending for themselves in the feeding frenzy.

Hoping to see what people have done to create feeding opportunities for the cbb that are more or less unavailable or uninteresting to the other fish.

Steve

 

[aqua180]

mine also threw right in the tank, he ate all the anstia then started feeding with the rest of the fish eating frozen foods.
no problems great fish

 

[Texastravis]

What I did:

Set up my tank and added a lot of tangs. Later down the road I decided I wanted a CBB. I trained all my tangs to know that food was coming when my big black net goes into the water (this makes it easier to net fish later down the road since they think the net means food)

When I got my CBB I knew he needed special treatment. During the 8 week quarantine I got him used to the fact that it was dinner time when my hand was in the water with a turkey baster. After placing him into my big DT I was easily able to target feed him around my tangs because when my hand hit the water with a turkey baster tangs scattered and CBB came out lol. It was very funny, the CBB appeared to be "brave". Eventually the tangs caught wind of this so I started putting big algea strips on one end of the tank. This kept every tang occupied for awhile while I target fed the CBB on the other end of the tank.

Fun stuff and happy reefing!

 

[sufunk]

Be careful!

I added a cbb a few months ago. Last month, 3 chalices that i have had for over a year crapped out for noapparent reason. Yesterday, i caught the cbb taking chunks out of 1 of my 2 remaining chalices

 

[jhentr]

While I had mines in QT, I had it eating mysis and brine shrimp. I don't have any other aggressive eater in my tank besides a Mimic Tang so my CBB still gets his fill.

He's been reef safe so far (but my mini-feather dusters wouldn't agree it this since they were wiped out in under an hour).

 

[anniesdad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13271122#post13271122 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aqua180
mine also threw right in the tank, he ate all the anstia then started feeding with the rest of the fish eating frozen foods.
no problems great fish

+1

 

[Steve Atkins]

I have been thinking of keeping one in a seperate tank for a while and training it to eat food out of one of those small toy plastic balls with holes in (probably have to remove the rattle most of them seem to have).

The idea is that if it did have trouble finning it with the other fish when it got in the reef I would have some way of getting food in that it would be able to recognise plus get to and would be unavailable to most of the other fish.

The turkey baster idea might work as well and probably I should develop a few feeding options.

My tank has some pretty aggressive and large eaters, some of whom are quite happy to take a bite of my finger if I don't feed them fast enough (blood has been drawn on several occasions).

My firsh cbb, was big, brave and omnivirous but unfortunately perished jammed in rocks while trying to get to that one last aiptasia. The last one I had, about 2 years ago, was fine until it ran out of food in the tank so I want to have as many bases covered as possible for the next one.

Steve

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13278386#post13278386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve Atkins
I have been thinking of keeping one in a seperate tank for a while and training it to eat food out of one of those small toy plastic balls with holes in (probably have to remove the rattle most of them seem to have).

The idea is that if it did have trouble finning it with the other fish when it got in the reef I would have some way of getting food in that it would be able to recognise plus get to and would be unavailable to most of the other fish.

This seems like a cool idea. Gotta link to this ball?

 

[mflamb]

While each of my fish were in QT, they recieved food training. For my Vlamingi and Blond Naso all food was introduced in the top left front corner of the QT. If I put my hand there, they went nuts. If I put my hand anywhere else, no real response. For all other fish so far (2 Genicanthus, 2 Chromis, Thompsons Tang, Yellow Coris Wrasse, Royal Gramma) all food was introduced in front of a powerhead in various locations, so they were used to blowing fast moving stuff. If it doesn't move they don't eat. In the display the large tangs eat at the front left top. The flakes and thawed frozen food goes in the sump right in front of the return pump inlet, so the food comes out of 4 loc-line returns and the smaller fish go nuts chasing it. My Copperband is being trained in the right rear, and that's where I'll feed him in the display, while the others are chasing what's moving.

 

[Steve Atkins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13278554#post13278554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
This seems like a cool idea. Gotta link to this ball?

No link but just go to a toy shop or pet shop. I have seen them used as playthings for babies and I think something similar is available for kittens to chase.

Steve

 

[suta4242]

In quarantine, feed him with scallops / mussel on the half shell. At first you may need to scoop out a lot of the flesh if he's eating very little to avoid polluting the water.

Once he's eating well:

Create a small hole in a peice of mussel/ clam shell. Attach a long peice of clear tubing that extends to tte tank surface. Now drop his food down - this should end up in the partly closed shell. The 2 pc shell should appear closed with a gap big enough from the side only for him to stick his snout into. (You will have used glue / putty to do this).

It should be placed in a part of the rockwork he frequents.

I think a long quarantine will give him a lot more confidence to deal with your bossy fish once he enters the DT. Also a 3 week quarantine in an LFS won't ensure he's disease free IMO.

good luck