Copper banded butterfly

[larrysaltisfun]

I just purchased a 4 inch copper banded butterfly that was eating like a fiend in the LFS that they fed PE, mysis . I have now been reading about how difficult these guys can be to keep alive. I have a 210 gallon tank with tangs fox face and dwarf angels. Currently the copper band is in quarantine. If I knew how difficult they were based on what I’ve since read, I probably would have not bought him but now that I have him, I want to make every effort to help assure that he has a fighting chance.

Are there any “must dos” that can be recommended? I’ve got lots of frozen food, including PE mysis Rod’s food mega marine, algae mega marine angel, blood worms I see #jumbo shr#jumbocommends clams as a must. If there is consensus on that, what is the recommendation in terms of adding clams to his diet and how to

Thanks for any advice.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Sorry for that messed up reference that should’ve been #J#JumboShrimp

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Jeez #JumboShrimp

 

[Sam7]

If you saw it eating like a fiend as you say at your lfs then i wouldnt worry about it. Just keep feeding him what he likes. Try new things and see how it goes. Oh ya....you can edit your post but have to pretty soon before time runs out

 

[larrysaltisfun]

If you saw it eating like a fiend as you say at your lfs then i wouldnt worry about it. Just keep feeding him what he likes. Try new things and see how it goes.

Sounds too easy but that’s what I was going to do , but everything I’m reading makes them sound like a junior Moorish Idol lol thanks for your advice

 

[slingfox]

I just purchased a 4 inch copper banded butterfly that was eating like a fiend in the LFS that they fed PE, mysis . I have now been reading about how difficult these guys can be to keep alive. I have a 210 gallon tank with tangs fox face and dwarf angels. Currently the copper band is in quarantine. If I knew how difficult they were based on what I’ve since read, I probably would have not bought him but now that I have him, I want to make every effort to help assure that he has a fighting chance.

Are there any “must dos” that can be recommended? I’ve got lots of frozen food, including PE mysis Rod’s food mega marine, algae mega marine angel, blood worms I see #jumbo shr#jumbocommends clams as a must. If there is consensus on that, what is the recommendation in terms of adding clams to his diet and how to

Thanks for any advice.

You did the right thing in picking a specimen from then LFS that you saw eating aggressively. I purchased my first Copperband 10 weeks ago and tried to do the same thing.

I put my Copperband in quarantine for a month. During that time I tried to get it to eat. I fed both mysis/brine with a Copperband feeder and also dropped in a clam every few days. When I moved it to the main display tank it ate out of the water column right away. To ensure it gets enough food I also dropped in a thawed Manila clam once a week. I tie the clam to a small rock and open the clam just enough so that the Copperband can pick at it. So far the Copperband is doing great. Within a week it completely irradiated the sphagetti worm (generally harmless critters) population in the tank. I assume with the Copperband I will be able to keep Aptasia out.

I still use the Copperband feeder once in a while but will likely stop soon since the Copperband should do okay eating out of the water column and having access to a whole clam once a week. The Copperband also picks at the rock all the time (particularly at night) which is a good sign.

If looking for a Copperband feeder, I would recommend one with less holes. The one I have has too many holes which causes the frozen food to go into the tank too easily. This means the other fish crowd around and eat most of the food! If I purchased another one I would try something like this:

Copperband Butterfly Fish Feeder

UP TO 3/4" GLASS THICKNESS - NOW for ALL FISH! Introducing the all-in-one Copperband Butterfly Fish Feeder BUT also even if you dont have one it can be used as Frozen Feeder, the perfect addition to your saltwater aquarium. Crafted with the needs of your Copperband Butterfly in mind, this...

printedreef.com

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Is that a clam you get from the seafood store or frozen fish food supplier?

 

[slingfox]

Is that a clam you get from the seafood store or frozen fish food supplier?

I go to one of the local Asian supermarkets and buy live Manila clams. I then rinse then freeze them. I thaw out one clam every week. Whatever is not consumed within a day I take out, chop up and feed to the tank. Last week all of the clam was eaten. I assume it was not all the Copperband. What happens sometimes is he will pull out a large chunk that we can’t swallow and the other fish will be able to snack on the clam too. I initially opened the clam too much and what would happen is my wrasse and yellow tang would come by and eat most of it Needless to say, my fish love clam!

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Thanks a lot…. I’m on it …sounds easy enough!!!

 

[slingfox]

Here is the picture of my Copperband feeding on its weekly clam. In the picture the clam is open too wide. I keep the opening smaller now to prevent the my wrasse and Yellow Tang from eating most of the clam. In the picture you can see my Longnose Hawkfish waiting for bits to be pulled out. Also, there is an Aborned Wrasse enroute to the check on the clam!

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Hey, I’m sure it’s a cool pic, but I’m not able to open it

 

[larrysaltisfun]

It opened. … awesome…. thanks for your help

 

[BriansBrain]

Check if a lfs sales live black worms (likely a lfs that does freshwater).

Mine ate mysis at the store when I bought him, then stopped when I put it in an unmedicated QT. It wouldn’t eat anything including clams. I bought some live blackworms and he went absolutely nuts for them. After a week or two it would eventually start eating Selcon soaked mysis again and that’s all he eats from the water column now, and blackworms. Every fish is different of course and it can be frustrating.

You’re doing the right thing by isolating the fish and basically bottle feeding to get it strong enough for the display. They’re obviously a delicate timid fish that need/deserve some extra effort. Best of luck!

 

[slingfox]

Check if a lfs sales live black worms (likely a lfs that does freshwater).

Mine ate mysis at the store when I bought him, then stopped when I put it in an unmedicated QT. It wouldn’t eat anything including clams. I bought some live blackworms and he went absolutely nuts for them. After a week or two it would eventually start eating Selcon soaked mysis again and that’s all he eats from the water column now, and blackworms. Every fish is different of course and it can be frustrating.

You’re doing the right thing by isolating the fish and basically bottle feeding to get it strong enough for the display. They’re obviously a delicate timid fish that need/deserve some extra effort. Best of luck!

I also fed my Copperband black worms when in QT. Unfortunately I didn’t have live worms around but the Copperband liked the frozen black worms.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Since they’re mostly carnivores, should I be soaking all of his food in selcon? I can’t imagine how they get enough nutrition with their meaty diet

 

[Sam7]

i believe selcon is like oil from snakes as in snake oil...imo

 

[slingfox]

I also fed my Copperband black worms when in QT. Unfortunately I didn’t have live worms around but the Copperband liked the frozen black worms.

I used to soak all my frozen in Selcon. I stopped since I got lazy doing it and didn’t notice any visible difference. It probably has some benefit since it is providing more nutrients. I may get back into it again.

 

[Dfost]

My experience with copper bands is you really need to get them super thick before the display if they decide to stop eating once moved you have more time. Also any other larger bodied fish like tangs will usually pick on them for a couple days which can stress them out pretty easy.

 

[Johnny C]

I got a copperband about two years ago to eat my aiptasia. He did a wonderful job. He hunts all the time. I no longer see aiptasia. I have a clam that it completely leaves alone but he loves mysis shrimp and bloodworms.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I originally gave mine masstick which was great because he was able to graze on it over time and pick at it like they would on rock. I fed it into a two little fishies pouch feeder. Once he got used to that he moved to LRS in the pouch feeder. And now eats aggressively along with a bunch of tangs.

Once they start eating along with the other fish it seems that they are good to go.