Sucess with Copperband butterflyfish?

[LiveStrongM3]

I've read past threads discussing how copperbands can have a tendency to stop eating, randomly die, require special foods (picky eaters), stressed by more aggressive tankmates, etc. I asked my LFS about copperband hardiness and they said they were fairly hardy fish and haven't heard of the problems I had mentioned...

I'd love to add one to my 80 gallon reef tank but I'm hesitant after reading more about them. Just curious to see how many have had problems/success with your copperbands.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

My yellow tangs always hassled the CBB. I gave it a try 3 different occasions with 0 success.

 

[alton]

Add it to a tank with aptaisia and you should have no problems. In time they will switch over to regular foods. I like having them because once acclimated they are very hardy and never are aggressive towards tank mates.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I've had several of them over the years. I've only lost one due to unknow reasons shortly after I got it.

My current CBB likes to stare me down. he's not afraid of anything it seems.

the only problem I ever had with one was when I put a Moorish Idol in the tank. My CBB that was in there at the time was the only fish that even noticed him. Even though the MI was bigger, the CBB was still going to show him who was boss. The MI didn't pay him any attention. After several days of this, The CBB I guess gave up and they beacme swimming buddies, always together swimming in the tank.

I say look for a good healthy one thats eating and go for it. Feed frozen Mysis or spirulina brine and you should be fine. I actually had one eating pellets after he decimated my apstia problem.

Good luck.

 

[nuhabit]

My CBB was put into the tank after my powder blue tang. They were equal in size but the CBB seemed to wear him down and powder died. The CBB swims well with the yellow tang and blonde naso. I don't know what it was about the powder. The CBB is a nice fish to have around.

 

[rad1687]

I have only had mine for two weeks (which I know is far from a success). He was a fussy eater at first, not eating anything I put in, only grazing on the rock. I finally tried so frozen brine which he gobbled down, and now eats just about any frozen food. Will even take Rod's even though he wouldn't a week ago. Hope this helps.

 

[MCCOOL]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1492696

 

[SkullV]

I have had mine for a little over a month now (2 weeks in the DT) and it is doing very well. It is an Australian caught specimen which I'm told (and have read) has a much better chance of survival than fish caught from the other collection areas.

Mine eats Spirulina Brine and Hikari Mysis soaked in Selcon like it's his job. Picks at Rod's but doesn't really take it down yet.

 

[sushibug]

I'm on my second one... the first one at mysis at the LFS but slowly and spit out half of what he ate. This second one ate everything aggressively, ate 12 large pieces of mysis in front of me and spit out nothing. I think that's the key to success... picking one out that already eats like a pig.

 

[HndMafia]

I've had mine for two years, has the most personality of any fish in the tank. I think the key is to start with a medium sized one and if from the lfs make sure it eats before you buy. I'd try to obtain one from somewhere like diver's den if I was looking for another.

 

[jhentr]

First one (~2.5") ate black worms at the LFS. Brought it home with some black worms and ate that along with frozen blood worms and mysis. Also wiped out my fanworm population in 5 mins of introduction. Only dried food it ate was freeze dried mysis (no flakes/pellets). Kept it for two years with only a mimic tang as a fish it's same size. Always came to the front glass to greet me. One day out of the blue, found it stuck to the power head dead (~4.5 inches). Not sure if it's nutritional deficiency??? Should have soaked the freeze dried mysis in selcon/vita-chem, etc??

My current second one is also about ~2.5 inches. Not eating anything so far besides picking at the rocks. Hopefully will come around since it's only been 4 days.

 

[tcoral]

Add it to a tank with aptaisia and you should have no problems. In time they will switch over to regular foods. I like having them because once acclimated they are very hardy and never are aggressive towards tank mates.

+1, I have had mine for several years now. Very tame and smart! He eats mysis and rods as well as anything else he finds (no problems with aptaisia either). I have to watch any new clam additions though (put a cage on it until he loses interest).

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

What type of cage do you use? I have a couple of corals I would like to protect from a butterfly. Thanks.

 

[jimroth]

Three years and no problems (no aptaisia either). Likes PE Mysis and the occasional treat of blackworms. Seems to eat a lot of pods as well.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Had mine for about a year. He eats live blackworms, mysis and whatever he scrounges off the rocks.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

I got mine to eat clam on the half shell on the second day

 

[tcoral]

What type of cage do you use? I have a couple of corals I would like to protect from a butterfly. Thanks.

I had to make one with egg crate. If any part was open he'd tried to swim sideways to get to it (you'd be surprised the space they can fit into), I had to put the crate and shoo him away. He mostly investigates new stuff. He's one of my favorite fish though.

When I got him he was around 3.5-4" and eating, that maybe why he's a success. He's bigger now.