Copperband butterfly eating coral

[Bigdaddy05]

A little over a month ago I picked up a Malaysian copperband butterfly I was told that they are hardier eat no problem and don't eat coral in the last week it has eaten my jf JF kraks rastas Tweety birds gmk rainbow Yoda's devil's armour rainbow eclipse and chewed on a lobo and an acanthopylia along with eating l my clove polyps anyone else have this happen it hasn't touched about 6 other types of zoas though?!

 

[MichaelReefer]

I have always been under the understanding that all copperband have a chance to pick at coral.

 

[Bigdaddy05]

It eats pellets flake mysis and brine I was told it absolutely wouldn't eat coral just maybe micro feather dusters and such

 

[Goaway]

I brought in new polyps of zoa/palythoa and my cbb would pick at them. Eats any thing that looks like an aiptasia/feather worm.

CBB are a risky fish. They can eat coral. Some actually do. Mine was nipping at my trachyphyllia when I had gotten sick and reduced feedings to 2 times per day. I upped feedings back to 4+ and she stopped picking on my trachy.

How often are you feeding yours?

 

[areefer01]

A little over a month ago I picked up a Malaysian copperband butterfly I was told that they are hardier eat no problem and don't eat coral in the last week it has eaten my jf JF kraks rastas Tweety birds gmk rainbow Yoda's devil's armour rainbow eclipse and chewed on a lobo and an acanthopylia along with eating l my clove polyps anyone else have this happen it hasn't touched about 6 other types of zoas though?!

Judging by the names of the corals maybe it thought it was dining at Ruth Chris Steak House and looking at the desert menu... Maybe should have interviewed the Copperband before introduction and get its take on the situation.

Seriously though it doesn't matter what the LFS or vendor said it is wrong. The only correct answer to give when asked this question is this:

Every fish is different. You, the hobbyist, must have an acceptable risk level and decide if it is worth it or not.

TL;DR - they are typically flagged as "reef safe - with caution". Just a FYI.

 

[jtf74]

Well at least you have an eating copperband

 

[Bigdaddy05]

I brought in new polyps of zoa/palythoa and my cbb would pick at them. Eats any thing that looks like an aiptasia/feather worm.

CBB are a risky fish. They can eat coral. Some actually do. Mine was nipping at my trachyphyllia when I had gotten sick and reduced feedings to 2 times per day. I upped feedings back to 4+ and she stopped picking on my trachy.

How often are you feeding yours?

There's an auto feeder that gives pellets and flakes 3x a day and then mysis and other frozen stuff 1 a day sometimes 2 a day

 

[Bigdaddy05]

Well at least you have an eating copperband

Soon to be moved lol it seriously is fat and eats everything

 

[Bigdaddy05]

Judging by the names of the corals maybe it thought it was dining at Ruth Chris Steak House and looking at the desert menu... Maybe should have interviewed the Copperband before introduction and get its take on the situation.

Seriously though it doesn't matter what the LFS or vendor said it is wrong. The only correct answer to give when asked this question is this:

Every fish is different. You, the hobbyist, must have an acceptable risk level and decide if it is worth it or not.

TL;DR - they are typically flagged as "reef safe - with caution". Just a FYI.

I wish it would of chosen the green palys and other less expensive zoas then I wouldn't of minded

 

[Crabby48]

I wish it would of chosen the green palys and other less expensive zoas then I wouldn't of minded

Why eat choice steak when prime is same price.
sorry he is eating the coral

 

[Bigdaddy05]

Why eat choice steak when prime is same price.
sorry he is eating the coral

Lol he's .along a move to the downstairs tank to live with the dogface puffer

 

[Gtinnel]

Like already stated many times whether a fish is reef safe comes down to the individual fish. I tried a copperband once and couldn’t get it to eat anything, then it started eating my hammers and Duncan coral.

 

[t5Nitro]

If it eats mushroom coral, I'll take it off your hands. lol

 

[areefer01]

I wish it would of chosen the green palys and other less expensive zoas then I wouldn't of minded

Fully understand. Sorry to hear that it is pushing the boundary. Maybe see what it does leave alone and restock with those. If you have a healthy CB that is eating prepared food I would almost take that over a few corals. But I also have to respect the expense. Corals and budget say we have to look at everything.

Hope your evening is going well.

 

[i cant think]

All CBBs will have a chance to eat coral. Mine avoids LPS like the plague and deals with the life growing around the skeleton of my Duncan. I also have a Favia he avoids, Mini Maxi Anemone was also avoided. My Zoas vanished all 3 times I tried them, I can’t blame the CBB exactly because I also have a rabbit that avoids the same corals.
Here he is infront of the Duncan, pecking the sand for life.

 

[gbroadbridge]

It eats pellets flake mysis and brine I was told it absolutely wouldn't eat coral just maybe micro feather dusters and such

Copperbands generally are not reef safe.

Sometimes you get lucky if they're well fed, but if they get hungry they'll dine on coral.

 

[exnisstech]

I know this is kind of an old post but maybe feed some muscle or clam or even LRS so it gets more of a meaty variety. Mine eats all of that but won't even look at a flake or pellet and hasn't touched a coral, but I can't grow zoas so none of those are available.

 

[Tamberav]

Malaysian copperband butterfly is still a Copperband butterfly with extra words :) They will still carry a risk to corals.

 

[i cant think]

Malaysian copperband butterfly is still a Copperband butterfly with extra words :) They will still carry a risk to corals.

It’s similar with regal angels. Red Sea Regals are just the same as Indonesian Regals but with more words added to it.

 

[Bigdaddy05]

Mine eats pretty much anything along with coral I tried everything and ended up moving it to a tank that had just gsp which the copperband and dogface puffer occasionally eat too! My copperband eats flake pellets mysis brine shrimp muscles on the shell clams on the shell table shrimp recently I tried raw calamari and seemed to not be a fan.