Trying for a Copperband Pairing--any thoughts?

[flameangel88]

I've had butterflies before but never look into a copperband until now. Anyone have success with having 2 or more copperbands? Any thoughts on parameters that may be required to a have chance of success on pairing? Can a 5" and 2.5" pair up?

Assume finding two that are eating.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Interesting thought, and good luck. I think your last comment is telling. It is hard enough to find two healthy ones, let alone two healthy ones that are eating. You may be blazing a relatively uncommon trail and it would be neat if you can pull it off.

 

[nonimmigrant]

The last time I did it it ended up in failure. My CBB was 5" and had been in my 2M for 2.5 years when I tried to add another. Left the newbie in the isolation box for a week and was pretty well ignored. However, once free to roam, my original CBB chased it non-stop for two days to the point where both of the fish were completely wiped out and not eating. I removed the newbie at the end of the day and gave to a friend after another week recuping in QT. If you add them at the same time, you should not have an issue. I have heard from others that CBB's and C. marginalis do get rather territorial when they hit that 5" mark. Based on my experience, I'd second that motion.

 

[aquaph8]

I asked this same question before and got little reply. I don't think very many have tried it. I've always though about trying a CB with my muelleri but I'm too chicken.

 

[flameangel88]

Thanks for the replies.

I was at the lfs last Sunday evening I noticed couple of copperband that's been in the reef for about 2 weeks were still there so I inquired what they were eating. The owner said it's been there for over 2 weeks and he hardly feed them and the three pretty much just pick off the rocks but said one of them eats mysis when he does feed. The owner threw some mysis in and I saw the slightly smaller of the 2 larger one took in a few while the largest and smallest didn't react to the food when it hit the water. I decided to get the one that was eating and over the next couple of days I fed frozen where I noticed it was eating small mysis and spits out the larger ones. I tried flakes and pellets it reacts to but appears to spit out flakes after taking in a piece and breaking it to smaller pieces.

I took the day off yesterday waiting for a fish from Hawaii and while panicking because ups changed the delivery status to Monday because it got into the local hub late and long story short I managed to to contact the local hub to hold for pick up. While driving out to ups I passed by the lsf and decided to come back later to pick up the smaller copperband and take a chance on getting it to eat and pair off. When I got to the lfs I didn't see the copperbands so I asked the owner about them and the owner said he just saw the larger one dead but the smaller is in there. He pick up the dead one and the body is still looking good especially the eyes were clear but he said he hasn't seen the little one eat mysis. After I put the new one in the larger one went after her and this went on for about 3-4 minutes and I finally turned all the lights out after acclimating the other fish. I was going to keep the lights off till the morning but wanted to check on the new additions after posting here and before retiring for the night. After turning on the actinics to my surprise the copperbands were hanging next to each other the smaller one actually was following the larger one when he (guessing here) is on the move. So I decided to give a feeding sine I have the lights on and the new one started to eat the small pieces of Angel & Butterfly Diet and actually took in one small mysis. I know this is very early especially the little one is pretty skinny so keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

Here's a video right after I had the lights on

03 on
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full
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[suta4242]

Good luck with this. Will be interesting to see what happens in the long run . :cheers:

I have been thinking about doing something simliar since a local collector offered to catch a true WC pair. I didn't try these once I found out how big the larger of the pair usually is...5" plus snout. This is because the fish don't pair up until they are much bigger apparently. Since the fish was large I would have felt comfortable putting them in anything less than 200+ gallons so I didn't proceed.

Then I thought I'd try this with juveniles. He strongly recommended against it as they tried this after collection and the fish invariably fought. Spoke to another collector with the same idea except using C. marginalis... He gave me the same advice adding they tend to fight most around the 4" size. I figured it was worth a try so separated the fish with a divider in the QT. At the end of a long quarantine during which time they recovered from what seemed to be MV I removed the divider. They swam together and were beautiful to watch for a few weeks. Almost immediately after hitting the display they turned on each other ferociously. I eventually lost both to injuries.

Hope you have better luck!

 

[flameangel88]

Thanks everyone for your input.

suta--thank you so much for the information you provided (especially inputs from the collectors) and this will help many in the future looking to pair.

When I first saw the 3 copperbands in the lfs the 2 larger one were in the general area with the largest trying to poke the slightly smaller one out but both kind of ignored the smallest. I didn't see any fighting with the smallest so I took a chance and as soon as I put in the new one the larger went after her so I had to darken the room. I was actually thinking I may have to pull the little one out when I was posting this thread but what a 180 degree change when I went to check on them before going to bed the two were hanging close when the actinics came on and it was so much fun to watch the little one following the larger one. There's one bloody mark on the body of the little one which I think came from the ensuring poking when she was first introduced. My biggest concern is how skinny she is and the lfs owner said he never saw her eating mysis but it was a tank full of corals and macros with just the 3 copperbands so I assume she survived to this point from eating pods. After seeing her eat some of the Angel and Butterfly Diet last night gives me a little hope here. I will post my updates here.

 

[SDguy]

I'm not sure CBB will be any different than any other butterfly of the Chaetodon genus, even though they are Chelmon. May or may not work, depending on the individual fish. Size is not the key factor, long term, IME.

 

[RealReef7]

i can tell you my current cb has been doing ok, he's been with me for about a month now. Couldn't imagine keeping 2, but the best of luck goes to you! they truly are difficult but rewarding.

 

[flameangel88]

Back in 2007 I introduced 2 semilarvatus at the same time both were about 3.75-4". Was doing well for about 4 months hanging out together then all of a sudden one turned on the other till it stopped eating and died. In 2008 I tried with 2 buguess one first then the second one was introduced shortly after. The first one was the aggressor and never allowed the second one to settle in. I enjoy keeping pairs so I've stayed away from butterflies since and just getting back into it now.

 

[RealReef7]

you may try the australian species, the traditional cb are so unpredictable.

 

[flameangel88]

Normally that's what I would have done but this time I was able to see both at the lfs--there for over 2 weeks; I was able to see one eating mysis; there was no aggression toward the smaller one. Otherwise with their bad rap of survival I won't have bought them.

 

[flameangel88]

Update

Update

Getting the small one to eat been a bit of a challenge but I tried some frozen blood worm and she took some for the past week. Both are not touching pellets yet and been spitting out flakes. For the past 12 days the little one been stay by the side of the larger one and after transferring both into a DT they are still hanging out together. We will see how they do when the smaller one gets bigger but for now they sure look like a pair.

I fed the tank before turning off the lights to allow them to rest but during the 15 minutes the light was on no one bother them. I'll try to take some pic/vid next day or two.

 

[nonimmigrant]

Interesting comment about the marginalis as I am going to do this in a week's time. The marginalis I have in qt is abt 2.5" - and smaller than my CBB - and is eating just about everything other than pellets. Shall advise if successful.

Good luck with this. Will be interesting to see what happens in the long run . :cheers:

I have been thinking about doing something simliar since a local collector offered to catch a true WC pair. I didn't try these once I found out how big the larger of the pair usually is...5" plus snout. This is because the fish don't pair up until they are much bigger apparently. Since the fish was large I would have felt comfortable putting them in anything less than 200+ gallons so I didn't proceed.

Then I thought I'd try this with juveniles. He strongly recommended against it as they tried this after collection and the fish invariably fought. Spoke to another collector with the same idea except using C. marginalis... He gave me the same advice adding they tend to fight most around the 4" size. I figured it was worth a try so separated the fish with a divider in the QT. At the end of a long quarantine during which time they recovered from what seemed to be MV I removed the divider. They swam together and were beautiful to watch for a few weeks. Almost immediately after hitting the display they turned on each other ferociously. I eventually lost both to injuries.

Hope you have better luck!

 

[flameangel88]

Both are still a bit nervous and hanging in the back so this is the best I can do till both are fully acclimated into their new environment.

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[geaux xman]

any updates kevin?

i was thinking about removing my passer and adding a CBB to my DT.

 

[flameangel88]

The small one didn't make it. Getting her to eat was a challenge and by the time she started to eat frozen blood worm was already too late. To be fair the lfs owner said he never saw the little one eat any prepared food and may have survived on pods for the 3 weeks he had it in the frag tank. Very unfortunate because the two was always hanging out very close to each other with the little one following the large one around. I'll probably look for another one down the road when my qt is available.

The big one is doing well eating eating mysis but not much else for now so I may have to ween it a bit on live clam till he will eat frozen clam. He's looking pretty good right now but I want to get him on to eat a more balanced diet.

 

[geaux xman]

thats unfortunate about the little one.

are you doing any treatments in that QT tank?

 

[flameangel88]

Both copperband was introduced into the dt last week and I have new fishes (4" male flame wrasse and a 2.5" CI juv emperor) in the qt. I haven't seen anything in the qt to warrant treatment at this time.