is it common for copperband butterfly to be shy?

racinghart · #1 08/13/2006, 10:45 PM

i just picked up a copperband at my lfs... he was active in the tank at the store (then again there wasnt live rock for any of the fish to hide in or behind) but after taking him home... nice 3 hr acclimation... i let him loose in the tank and he finds a cave and stays in there... occasionally takes a peak out but doesnt swim around. there is a lot of swimming room for him too.

is this common? there is plenty of food for him i assume... are they always this shy (aiptasias everywhere!)

Sk8r · #2 08/13/2006, 10:49 PM

Be very quiet near the tank and possibly lower the light to twilight. They're notoriously shy and delicate eaters...hard to get to eat at all. Don't have loud music in the room for a few days until he settles and don't [however hard] hover too long near the tank. Back off across the room to sit and watch and let him explore. To him, you're a great big grouper with butterfly on the menu.

racinghart · #3 08/14/2006, 12:43 AM

okay... i will just be quiet and patient around this fella... i guess its cause he is in a new environment. its just, with my percs they had no problem going around and claiming everything as theirs in the tank haha so when i get another fish and its all scared... its a call for concern. thanks! ill followup in a few days to see wassup

Freed · #4 08/14/2006, 12:50 AM

I agree with sk8r. Move ever so slowly around the tank if you have to go near it for a few days to a week. Offer food often to get it to become used to food and it will associate food with you as well and come out when you are near. Offer brine shrimp to entice it to eat and then start offering mysis along with other meaty foods along the way.

gemini aquarius(t) · #5 08/14/2006, 03:14 PM

ya mine was like that to when i left and now that im home hes swiming around the tank like he owns it! although i noticed some puff balls at the end of all of his fins

but he eats like its his last meal

ScotchMaster · #6 08/14/2006, 03:55 PM

I really want to get a copperband....how are they with regal and yellow eyed tangs?

gemini aquarius(t) · #7 08/14/2006, 04:08 PM

scotchmaster: ill trade u mine if/when i clean him up if u want

salt e · #8 08/14/2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gemini aquarius(t)
although i noticed some puff balls at the end of all of his fins but he eats like its his last meal

by the sound of it... it just might be

(*j/k)

gemini aquarius(t) · #9 08/14/2006, 04:55 PM

lol ya i dont know what they are but i was told by a "master reefer" u know who u are that they are just a sign of stress. so i might just have to give him to the lfs to see if they can bring him bak after my work is done or someone with a bigger tank then mine
but i dont know i might keep him

ScotchMaster · #10 08/14/2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gemini aquarius(t)
scotchmaster: ill trade u mine if/when i clean him up if u want

how big is he? What you looking for in trade?

gemini aquarius(t) · #11 08/14/2006, 06:21 PM

he is about 5 inches long from nose to tail and as for trade its up to you what do you have pm me

ScotchMaster · #12 08/14/2006, 06:43 PM

pm'ed you

Hawk72 · #13 08/14/2006, 06:58 PM

racinghart,

Mine is also very shy. One thing I noticed is they have to pretty much eat all the tube worms before they start on aiptasia.

ScotchMaster,

If gemini aquarius(t) doesn't come through I have a very healthy one I would be willing to trade. Same Trade value as gemini aquarius(t). He really does a great job on aiptasia.

Jason

ScotchMaster · #14 08/14/2006, 11:01 PM

You are kind of far but Ill let you know Jason thanks....

racinghart · #15 08/16/2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hawk72
racinghart,

Mine is also very shy. One thing I noticed is they have to pretty much eat all the tube worms before they start on aiptasia.

Jason

tube worms are those little worms that come out of rocks when the lights are usually off right? and they like creep out from all sorts of crevices? sometimes i see them in the day time but mostly at night.

Hawk72 · #16 08/16/2006, 07:13 PM

racinghart,

If you are referring to bristle worms I don't think they eat those. Any little feather dusters. Mine cleaned the tank of tube worms and aiptasia over the course of 4 months. I am afraid I am starving him now because I never see him eat anything I put in the tank.

Jason