Greg’s_525xl-Reefer
Active Member
I have had a CB for about a year now. Purchased from LiveAquaria which I would recommend due to the 14 day guarentee and they should be eating frozen food.
I think success with this fish is many factors, many of which have been discussed. 1) the fish itself and the collection. I find they stress pretty easy and once stressed may not eat. Therefore, the fish could’ve doomed from the beginning.
2) tank design and tank mates. I think order as to when this fish is added matters. For me he was my 4th fish, the biggest, and was added at the same time as a yellow tang. They are buddies now. I think timing of the addition is key so you can work with the CB to eat without stressors from more aggressive fish and competition. Mine ate pretty well in about 2-3 days. I waited like 6 months before anything else. I now have 3 tangs, a regal, two clowns and a royal gramma. The hippo tang is a nut, but the copperband is unphased since he is well established. He’s a beast and about 6 months ago survived a battle in my tank with brooklynella.
3) food choice. I went with mysis bathed in selcon and garlic to entice him. Black worms or live brine are good too. Once eating a varied diet is ideal (brine, mysis, clam, lrs mix). This fish loves to pick at the rocks so a large tank is definitely a benefit. Most fish swim around and look like there is no rhym or reason. Not a CB. They are always focused and on a mission.
4) frequent feedings. This is important for the coral question too. This fish can waste quickly so if hungry they may pick at lps. I know mine does. I feed two to three times a day. Usually, 1 or two feeding I feed just him from a pippett. That seems frustrating and maybe unnecessary right? Well, it is a bit, but I’ve tried to reduce feeding him on three occasions now and I have two holes in a lobo and one in a $400 scoly. This is what I need to do to keep him happy. In the end he’s my most social fish, beautiful, and like a dog. He swims through my fingers and follows my hand if it’s in the tank. I really love this fish.
I hope this helps. I say go for it if you are willing to care for it in the way that is required and it deserves.
I think success with this fish is many factors, many of which have been discussed. 1) the fish itself and the collection. I find they stress pretty easy and once stressed may not eat. Therefore, the fish could’ve doomed from the beginning.
2) tank design and tank mates. I think order as to when this fish is added matters. For me he was my 4th fish, the biggest, and was added at the same time as a yellow tang. They are buddies now. I think timing of the addition is key so you can work with the CB to eat without stressors from more aggressive fish and competition. Mine ate pretty well in about 2-3 days. I waited like 6 months before anything else. I now have 3 tangs, a regal, two clowns and a royal gramma. The hippo tang is a nut, but the copperband is unphased since he is well established. He’s a beast and about 6 months ago survived a battle in my tank with brooklynella.
3) food choice. I went with mysis bathed in selcon and garlic to entice him. Black worms or live brine are good too. Once eating a varied diet is ideal (brine, mysis, clam, lrs mix). This fish loves to pick at the rocks so a large tank is definitely a benefit. Most fish swim around and look like there is no rhym or reason. Not a CB. They are always focused and on a mission.
4) frequent feedings. This is important for the coral question too. This fish can waste quickly so if hungry they may pick at lps. I know mine does. I feed two to three times a day. Usually, 1 or two feeding I feed just him from a pippett. That seems frustrating and maybe unnecessary right? Well, it is a bit, but I’ve tried to reduce feeding him on three occasions now and I have two holes in a lobo and one in a $400 scoly. This is what I need to do to keep him happy. In the end he’s my most social fish, beautiful, and like a dog. He swims through my fingers and follows my hand if it’s in the tank. I really love this fish.
I hope this helps. I say go for it if you are willing to care for it in the way that is required and it deserves.
Although I had aiptasia in my overflows and sump, I did not see any at all in my display for 10+ years that it was in the tank. There was SPS, LPS and soft corals in with him and he never bothered any of it. I did put a couple of feather dusters in at the beginning and he wiped those out pretty quick. It eats like a pig and even fights off a much larger Hippo Tang at feeding time. He eats any fresh or frozen foods, but still won't even look at pellets or flakes. I have had two CBBs over the last 20 years and the first one in another tank was about the same. He did nip a little at my derasa clam though. I have had great luck with the two that I have owned. My 2¢ anyway.
