Copperband Butterfly Question.

[StartingATank]

This info is great, as I am about to switch my fish over from pellet Food to Frozen Food, and this is exactly the type of frozen food I planned on getting.

 

[Paul B]

Copperbands generally will not eat pellets or any dry foods. They do eat freeze dried tubifex worms but I wouldn't use that.

 

[Koty]

Frozen mussels (not cooked) will provide all their nutritional needs for long-term survival. they will also eat bloodworms and fresh (frozen) shrimp. I have kept my CBB for over 3 years now

 

[StartingATank]

Yeah, I will probably get one. I will feed them Frozen Mysis shrimp with spiraluna powder, and give them some frozen clams and mussels every once in a while. Thank you all

 

[StartingATank]

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.

I don't have one of these, but can I just go to the store and grab a bag of frozen clams from there. Or, should I get some at the butcher in the store.

 

[Sumbub]

I don't have one of these, but can I just go to the store and grab a bag of frozen clams from there. Or, should I get some at the butcher in the store.

Is there no fresh seafood markets? Could be because I'm in NYC that they have that everywhere.

 

[Koty]

By the way if you have a CBB in a reef tank kiss your Achantastreas good-bye. It’s a slow process but one day you wake up and they are gone

 

[Uncle99]

Yeah, I will probably get one. I will feed them Frozen Mysis shrimp with spiraluna powder, and give them some frozen clams and mussels every once in a while. Thank you all

Mine loves mysis.

I get them eating in isolation first, about 4-5 days.

When he got bigger, (which was surprisingly fast) he especially likes PE Mysis as it’s a bigger offering.

 

[StartingATank]

Is there no fresh seafood markets? Could be because I'm in NYC that they have that everywhere.

Yeah, I'm in Texas

By the way if you have a CBB in a reef tank kiss your Achantastreas good-bye. It’s a slow process but one day you wake up and they are gone

Luckily, I'm not getting those corals.

 

[Sumbub]

I’ve never had success with clams on the half shell. I’m not sure if you can look around and find another shop that’ll have it.

 

[Tonycass12]

Frozen brine and bloodworms is what i feed my copper bands I've got 2 of them and a long nose butterfly.

 

[Cheese Griller]

How big is your tank? And how recently was it set up? Copperbands really thrive in established systems so that they have inverts to graze on between feedings. And as with all fish they are less likely to eat while stressed, so proving them with at least a 55 gallon tank will allow them to feel more comfortable.

 

[StartingATank]

How big is your tank? And how recently was it set up? Copperbands really thrive in established systems so that they have inverts to graze on between feedings. And as with all fish they are less likely to eat while stressed, so proving them with at least a 55 gallon tank will allow them to feel more comfortable.

I don't have any inverts for them to eat on. I have no copepods, I keep meaning to get them, and I have no worms. My tank is about 4 months old, and it has been fully cycled for 3 months. I don't plan on getting it anytime soon, I'm getting some fish on the way now, and then I might get it after that, but it probably would be about 3-4 months before I get it, because I like the fish to get used to the aquarium before I add a new one. I have 2 clowns, will that be a problem.

 

[Cheese Griller]

I don't have any inverts for them to eat on. I have no copepods, I keep meaning to get them, and I have no worms. My tank is about 4 months old, and it has been fully cycled for 3 months. I don't plan on getting it anytime soon, I'm getting some fish on the way now, and then I might get it after that, but it probably would be about 3-4 months before I get it, because I like the fish to get used to the aquarium before I add a new one. I have 2 clowns, will that be a problem.

How big is the tank? That’s also an important factor. Clowns shouldn’t be a problem. And they aren’t huge pod-eaters, they more rely on larger inverts like worms and pest anemone type organisms.

 

[StartingATank]

How big is the tank? That’s also an important factor. Clowns shouldn’t be a problem. And they aren’t huge pod-eaters, they more rely on larger inverts like worms and pest anemone type organisms.

Now, before you scold me for tank size, just let me tell you that once the fish seems to be too big for it or has stress, my lfs will trade it for a juvenile butterfly fish, which is all I will ever get. They originally said to get a large fish to have bioload, and I was looking into tangs. however, the ones I wanted I asked them about, and they recommended another Tang, which I don't really like. So, I started looking into other fish, and I saw at their store a Copperband, and I thought that would be good. I am going to get some springeris from them in a little bit, and I will ask them about a copperband. If they say it's not a good idea, I will switch to a tomini Tang. My tank is a red sea nano 33 gallon xl.

 

[CrayHawk]

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.

Do your CBB bother your carpets?

 

[Harpo]

I was under the impression that they required a 125-gallon tank minimum. I'm just shy of that, and I was bummed that I could not have one. I need one to keep my apastasia under control. What about torches & BBS?

 

[Cheese Griller]

Now, before you scold me for tank size, just let me tell you that once the fish seems to be too big for it or has stress, my lfs will trade it for a juvenile butterfly fish, which is all I will ever get. They originally said to get a large fish to have bioload, and I was looking into tangs. however, the ones I wanted I asked them about, and they recommended another Tang, which I don't really like. So, I started looking into other fish, and I saw at their store a Copperband, and I thought that would be good. I am going to get some springeris from them in a little bit, and I will ask them about a copperband. If they say it's not a good idea, I will switch to a tomini Tang. My tank is a red sea nano

A 33 gallon isn’t an appropriate tank size for a CBB at any stage of life. As stated before, stress causes them to not eat, and a small tank exacerbates that. So your strategy of returning it when stressed will result in a conveyor belt of stressed fish that probably won’t even make it long enough to be returned to the store. A tomini tang also isn’t an appropriate choice either. If you want larger fish, get a larger tank.

Your LFS has a vested interest in you buying their fish, so they will tell you things to make it seem like a good idea. I currently have a 32 galling biocube which contains a clown pair, tailspot blenny, firefish, and YWG and pistol shrimp pair.

For your tank you need to stick to fish that stay 3” and under. Even more than one springeri is asking for inter-specific aggression.

 

[Cheese Griller]

I was under the impression that they required a 125-gallon tank minimum. I'm just shy of that, and I was bummed that I could not have one. I need one to keep my apastasia under control. What about torches?

What size tank? IMO a 75 is the bare minimum, I mistyped in my earlier message that says 55.

 

[exnisstech]

33 gallons? That's close, my pair are in 330 gallons. My kids didn't mind living in the closet either so I'm sure you'll have great success putting an already difficult and sensitive fish in nano.