Copperband Butterfly

[Joshua1023]

I know these guys can be pretty finicky. I know that they can sometimes pick at coral. I havn't bought one, but I saw a smallish one at the lfs and I want it. It looks healthy, but its not eating just yet. I have a qt. The fish is about 3 inches from snout to tail. I have several clams, 100lb+ of LR and a 6"DSB. I have a 3" Hippo, a 4" LNHawkfish, a Potters Angel, a 3 1/2" Kole Tang, and a Saddleback Clown. Mostly lps but several sps as well. Is it worth the risk w/ this fish? What say you yay or nay?

[dkop0978]

I have about a 4 inch Copperband in my 55g with 9 other fish and about 14 corals (frogspawn, zoas, brains, etc)...it's been in the tank for about 3 months. I would have to say it is a finicky eater but does eat (frozen brine) and picks along the rocks and sandbed. I haven't noticed any damage to my corals but it will pick on my feather duster from time to time but no major damage. I love the fish and it's one of my better buys. I would say go ahead and get it but like anything else, you have to watch it. I observe my tank for about 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night (during feeding time) along with brief glimpses at it while walking by. So far so good.

[Joshua1023]

I've seen some guys feed their CBB little neck clams. I have a few Crocea clams. Will they be irrisistable for the CBB?

[dkop0978]

I don't have any Crocea clams so I cannot say. I have fed my CBB clams from the local super market to get it eating and they don't last too long. Hopefully someone else can answer that question because I am looking to add some crocea clams to my tank as well.

[fourts1]

I have tried CBB several times and have always had difficulty getting them to eat. My current CBB has taken a liking to the mysis living in my tank and is doing great. I have never seen him eat prepared foods. Previous CBB would only eat aptasia and feather dusters and when the food ran out they dewindled away.

[rssjsb]

I took a risk on a little one that wasn't eating at the LFS, and he picked at rock for about a month before he started eating frozen food. Now he eats like a pig.

Still, even though I got away with it, I think it was kind of a foolish risk. I just felt sorry for him. He obviously wasn't going to make it there, and more sensible (and responsible) reefers probably wouldn't buy him because he wasn't eating. In other words, all the wrong reasons to buy a fish (thereby encouraging import and sales of a species of fish with bad survival odds).

Guilt aside, I have to admit that he's a joy. My favorite fish. He's experimentally pecked at corals (LPS) and even my clams, but then seemed to lose interest. No damage done.

[checkinhawk]

i have a CBB in my sps tank.i also have 6 clams,the fish hasnt bothered anything as far as sps or clams yet.i feed him mysis,he has done some damage to my feather dusters but thats fine.i havent tried the littleneck clams because im scared it will make him see my ornimental clams as a meal.

[Joshua1023]

That was my thoughts on it exactly. I love my Crocea's. Not so much towards the big feather dusters which were the first inverts besides the clean up crew and have run the distance.

[dickenscd]

I have kept a very healthy copperband for almost a year by feeding it with black mussels I picked from the shore. Usually I freeze the whole mussel, then just drop them to the tank, the shell of the mussel will slightly open by itself, the CBB will use his long mouse picking the meat inside.

The fish has not bothered my clams and other corals yet.

[Joshua1023]

Interesting. Anyone else want to chime in?

[ReefDent]

Ditto on the clams/ mussels- I've never frozen them, just cracked 'em open. I've also fed live adult brine shrimp at the initial introduction to the system. Pretty much anything will eat live brine.

I've not had problems with croceas or maximas. I think one of the reasons I don't just stick the mussel or clam (food) in withoout cracking it is because I don't want to "train" the copperband to pick inside clam shells, lol !! Whether or not this could be the case?? It just makes me feel better!!

James

[Joshua1023]

Good tip.

[Paul B]

I never had a copperband that bothered anything (and I have had many) but I have heard that people do have problems. Mine eats just about anything including bananas.
Paul

[Joshua1023]

Thanks for the info Paul. Are you serious about the bananas?

[Paul B]

Yes I am but they do not need bananas so don't feed them any. He eats it because some of the other fish do and he will eat anything so he gets some. The best food for copperbands is worms. They love worms, especially black worms.

[cartouche]

My CB thrives on Bloodworms.... in fact its such a pig he'll scoff anything from my fingers!

[grouper therapy]

I put a copperband in my sps,lps,and clam tank. The first thing he ate were all the small dusters and picked at the big dusters but soon lost interest. All other corals seem safe .He is not eating prepared foods yet, but there were alot of untouched food sources on the rock. Ihave 6 tangs in the tank that took him right in as if he was one of there group.