Those with Copperbands and Zebrasoma Tangs...
- Thread starter nuxx
- Start date
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
I think I saw someone mention above they couldn't keep their CBB alive because it was being outcompeted during feeding time.
They will peck at rocks all day long but it's not enough for them and do need that extra feeding. They will get to some food if it's broadcasted but they are much more timid and potentially not enough that way either. Some will depending on CBB and other tank mates. Good options for those not getting enough food is setting up something like a feeding station PaulB has setup feeding live baby brines in, some will setup a feeding station with PVC and holes for them to get their mouths into, or hand feeding.
I like hand feeding mine. Usually mysis, black worms, chopped up clams, or muscles. I cut the tip of a pipette off so only it can get it's mouth into it. Other fish try but I suck it back up in there.
that is a ridiculously cute picture. i'm going to have to give that a try with mine. usually i just drop in the food a little at a time and let it disperse in the tank. my clowns are the only fish i've had so far that let me hand feed them.
nuxx
.Registered Member
That's the one thing I've never had an issue with on CBBs.
Are you guys QTing them first? Both of our have been very aggressive eaters in QT.
Even this guy, stuck in the corner will dart out to grab some food.
Some good news, the little bait fish (Crescent Tail Wrasse) has found a good hiding spot and just keeps in his general area and is very aware of where the triggers are. He comes out and gets a good meal each feeding as well.
How long do you think he'll take to get from ~ 1" to 2.5" or so?
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
i ran mine through tank transfer, then in to my grow out system for a few weeks, then in an acclimation box in the main system for a week, then out in to the big pool.
mine has been a strong eater from day 1. when he was at the LFS they had him in a tank with about a dozen damsels, and even there he was holding his own for food.
i noticed that with each tank transfer his feeding response would dial back a little bit, likely as a result of the stress, but that after a day or so it was strong, 2 - 3 days it was excellent, and after a week or so it was a full on feeding frenzy. he certainly doesn't bother holding back when eating now, even with a yellow tang and two boisterous clowns competing with him.
mine is fairly limited on what he will eat though, really only taking myses.
mine has been a strong eater from day 1. when he was at the LFS they had him in a tank with about a dozen damsels, and even there he was holding his own for food.
i noticed that with each tank transfer his feeding response would dial back a little bit, likely as a result of the stress, but that after a day or so it was strong, 2 - 3 days it was excellent, and after a week or so it was a full on feeding frenzy. he certainly doesn't bother holding back when eating now, even with a yellow tang and two boisterous clowns competing with him.
mine is fairly limited on what he will eat though, really only taking myses.
nuxx
.Registered Member
The first one would only eat frozen brine.
This one takes everything offered, tried over 10 types of food.
Maybe because he's huge.
iced98lx
New member
I do not have any tangs in with my CBB but he or she is what I would consider 2nd in line behind the redstripe hogfish in the pecking order. I do notice the CBB chill out for a bit in one upper corner like yours now and then, seems to be resting visually, so that behavior alone wouldn't scare me. Mine mixes it up during feeding time just fine, getting as much LRS frozen as it can. I hope your Tang + CBB works out as I would like to add a Zebrasoma later in a substantially smaller tank.
nuxx
.Registered Member
I'd say this CBB and the Black Tang are around the same size. The Yellow is about 1/3rd smaller.
He's a good 5". I ordered a smaller one, but this one showed up. He went in a 20 gallon long QT, felt bad for him, but the tank was already setup and I didn't want any fish in with the Bandit Angel in the 40 gallon breeder.
I just put the acclimation box in the tank (far right side) and will add the Bandit Angel tonight.
I'm glad the CBB moved to the upper right corner, since when he was in the upper left there was a ton of flow, he was really swimming to stay in place.
Now the Acclimation box makes a little pocket on the right hand side between the box and powerheads where he can hang out. He's already come from the top to around 1/3rd down the tank.
I haven't noticed the Yellow or Black Tangs bother him today, but they aren't as interested in the mirror as the other fish (naturally). The Crosshatches just found the mirror and are checking it out.
This won't work for everyone because my tank is big, but I was finally able to keep a CBB alive with all of my tangs, after many failed attempts to do so. I attribute this to a few things. First, I bought him smaller than my tangs which I guess meant that they didn't see him as a threat. Second, I introduced him with a bunch of other fish. Lastly, I put him in a tank that is already fairly aggressive with 9 tangs, including 3 yellows, a PB, a purple and a sohal. They are too busy "playing" with each other that they don't even bother with the butterfly. I had him in QT for a while before putting him in the tank, so made sure that he ate mysis. Now that he's in the tank he's unfortunately not as quick to get the food, so I set up something very similar to what Paul B did but he's not yet realized that it is a source of food. I've gotten around this so far by feeding with a turkey baster and making sure the other fish are distracted when I feed so that the CBB gets enough of what is dosed.
They are challenging fish, but one of the nicest in my opinion. I really hope this one survives. He's been in the tank for about 2 weeks now, is eating well and isn't hanging around one corner of the tank like all of his predecessors were.
BTW Nuxx, I really like your rockwork in the video posted a page back. is that how it currently looks?
They are challenging fish, but one of the nicest in my opinion. I really hope this one survives. He's been in the tank for about 2 weeks now, is eating well and isn't hanging around one corner of the tank like all of his predecessors were.
BTW Nuxx, I really like your rockwork in the video posted a page back. is that how it currently looks?
hogfanreefer
Active member
Mine is not in with tangs other than an Atlantic Blue tang juvie that's much smaller then he is. My pyramid BF got frisky with him at first but the CB would just go vertical and point his dorsal spines at him and that stopped pretty quickly.
I do have to hand feed mine to keep him from being out competed by all the aggressive feeders (the tang, a bunch of wrasses and the pyramid).
I do have to hand feed mine to keep him from being out competed by all the aggressive feeders (the tang, a bunch of wrasses and the pyramid).
nuxx
.Registered Member
The CBB has moved from the top corner of the tank down into the rocks during full lights.
Earlier this morning he was out and about on the right hand side of the tank.
Also the little Crescent Tail Wrasse is out a lot now.
I decided to let the Bandit Angel out of the acclimation box and into the tank as well this afternoon.
The tangs are so distracted with the mirror, that I didn't think they'd even notice him.
When the Bandit came out, nobody paid any attention to him. He even swam around with the Yellow and Chevron Tangs for a bit and they didn't even care. He ventured over to the mirror and Black Tang, and the Black didn't seem to care about him either.
He seems pretty at home now, just exploring the tank. Will try to feed him later on with the new Blood Worm crack I discovered he loved a few days ago
Earlier this morning he was out and about on the right hand side of the tank.
Also the little Crescent Tail Wrasse is out a lot now.
I decided to let the Bandit Angel out of the acclimation box and into the tank as well this afternoon.
The tangs are so distracted with the mirror, that I didn't think they'd even notice him.
When the Bandit came out, nobody paid any attention to him. He even swam around with the Yellow and Chevron Tangs for a bit and they didn't even care. He ventured over to the mirror and Black Tang, and the Black didn't seem to care about him either.
He seems pretty at home now, just exploring the tank. Will try to feed him later on with the new Blood Worm crack I discovered he loved a few days ago
nuxx
.Registered Member
Yeah it's how it looks right now.
I tore it down a few weeks back to take out the Yellow Bellied Blue Tang.
I think around 1/3rd of the rock stayed where it was, I was very tired and just put it back together how it looks right now.
Took awhile to get used it, but now I like it more than it was. A lot more hiding places as well as caves and just more dimensions in general
nuxx
.Registered Member
OK, just removed the mirror.
The Black hasn't flashed at the CBB yet, but the CBB was in the middle of the tank, now he's retreated more to the right hand side.
If I see him back in a top corner, I'll put the mirror back in place :uzi:
