Copperband Butterfly Question.

[StartingATank]

I am thinking about getting a copperband Butterfly fish in my aquarium, but I am concerned it might eat my emerald crab or hermit crabs. Will it do it if I feed it enough.

 

[KrisReef]

They generally are not going to eat crabs.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

The challenge will be to get them to eat anything at all.

 

[Terry Le]

That would be my first concern is to get the Copper band to eat and stay alive

 

[KrisReef]

I feel that I have either gotten extremely lucky with the few Copperband butterflies I have brought home as they have always been eager to eat when I have had them. I think they are wary but able to figure out very quickly that I am feeding them food and not interested in eating them, at all.

 

[StartingATank]

Thanks for all the great info

 

[smitten with ocean life]

yes to all of the above. ive never heard of or seen mine mess with any crabs

 

[OrionN]

I would not buy one unless it is eating and not thin, at least not emaciated at the LFS. Won’t bother crabs and shrimp but any feather dusters, wiggly warmly things in your tank will be gone. They are also great pod hunters.

 

[exnisstech]

Mine don't bother crabs. They can be a difficult fish and don't always do well just tossed into a display and hope they will compete for food. I condition mine in an observation tank and have them eating out of the water column before adding them to the DT. Mine will only eat frozen but they do do with gusto



Some good information here

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...-a-beautiful-but-hard-to-keep-species.906341/

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@OrionN i was thinking for looking for a mated pair like you. what size tank do you recommend for a pair?

 

[OrionN]

They get pretty big fairly quickly if doing well. Mine male just about 1+ year and he grew from 2 inches to almost 5 inches. They don’t dash about or swim fast normally but I think 48X18 inches area should be OK for the pair.

 

[Paul B]

They have very weak mouths and won't eat any crabs. They wish they could, but they live on worms and soft foods. I feed them worms and pieces of clam.

Here mine laid an egg. :p

 

[zheka757]

+1 on having one eating in front of you before you buy one! Should be no excuse for it not to eat! They eat/hunt constantly.

 

[KrisReef]

I like to make sure they are bathing regularly and brushing teeth before bedtime. Having a well behaved Copperband is key to assimilation.

 

[Paul B]

They are big eaters but only soft foods.

 

[StartingATank]

Thanks for all the great advice. And if I did get one, could you be a little more specific on the food they should eat please. Thank you

 

[OrionN]

You should make sure it is eating. Frozen mysis should be best. If you can provide some of these culture live worms, then all most all of them will eat these worn.
I have a 40 gal breeder QT system that is full of fauna that I use to acclimate these sensitive fish. CBB will do really well acclimate to captive live in system like these.

 

[DD Corals]

I have been searching for a copperband at a lfs for a long time. My requirement is that it stays in the store for at least a week and it eats so I don’t have to bring it home and figure out it doesn’t eat. Since I only bring home fish if I see them eating/grazing and they are out and about and not hiding.

 

[akma]

Thanks for all the great advice. And if I did get one, could you be a little more specific on the food they should eat please. Thank you

Got my guy about a week ago. Was trying LRS, pellets, mysis and nothing.
Tried hikari spriluna brine shrimp and he went crazy.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bio-pure-frozen-spirulina-brine-shrimp-hikari.html?ab_version=B&gQT=1
Will be mixing up the food next couple weeks slowly to try to get him to eat everything.

 

[Sumbub]

I wish I could find the video on here but there was a posted video on how easy it is to get a copper and to eat. They suggested getting small live clams that are in at your local seafood shop and freeze them. Then you put one in the water and let it defrost naturally. It’ll slowly open as it defrosts and allows the copper and to eat.

I tried it with my copper and that I had for a couple months that was not eating any prepared foods. He got so super excited when I presented the clam and that was the end of it never eating. It took to frozen mysis about 2 weeks later. Now I feed him twice a week with the clam for a treat.