actually saturday evening it did eat 1 worm , suprised the $#@! out of me actually, but like I said above we woke up the next morning to it breathing heavily and it progressively got worse the rest of the day until it passed.... I am not giving up I honestly believe it could be possible that being put in bags of compressed air from the LFS is the culprit... these are very fragile fish I am well aware of, especially when they are in a new environment, but if i could just get 1 to actually survive a while I would be so happy ... that was my 4th btw now I am seriously thinking of ordering one online that has been eating and quarantined and shipped overnite to me instead of dealing with a LFS ... which is a bummer but it seems I cant get a healthy one around here. I have several fish in my display tank in the above photo, I would not even think of putting a copperband in that tank until I am certain it is healthy and eating eagerly.... I have a 20 long set up right next to it for quarantine with 1 percula clown that is so friendly he swims up to me every time I walk up to the tanks, like most of my fish will....
water parameters are fine, and actually I have blackworms to feed a copperband when I have them which is what they love to eat, and I've got mastic and frozen mysis etc... I have everything to succeed but can not get a break on one making it long enough to go to the main display.
I have had fishes that died after being netted and bagged by LFS staff. I never let myself purchase fish from that staff again. I have watched fish die in the bag after being netted and bashed into a bag. Totally wanted to thrash those staffers for being so careless with a living creature.
What is the opposite of fish battery?
Lots of pictures on line of folks holding fishes in the palms of their hands, no water, and the fish remains still for a photograph. Learn how to handle fish, and do not stand by and not reprimand any idiot who net bashes (could I be doing this? I don't mean to) livestock at the LFS. But I digress.
Acclimation guide:
Float bag for 15 minutes, or until the tank and the bag temperatures feel the same.
Open bag, reach in and gently cup the fish with your hand and lift it out being careful not to startle yourself and then the fish. Remain calm. Stay in controll.
Tell the fish (with either prayer or a quiet voice) that you are not going to harm it, you don't want to eat it, and most important, that you are sorry that it was removed by those other evil people who caught it in the ocean. You have rescued the fish and will provide it with a good home, and you expect it to live for many years to come happily in the tiny tank area that you are releasing it into.
Make sure the fish doesn't jump, secure the lid if you have one, and then back away from the tank and watch the fish explore the new confinement. Feed the tank, good fresh food, an extra meal lets everyone know that the new guy isn't going to mean less rations.
The myth of the delicate Copperband. They will eat like pigs if they feel safe and come begging like seagulls on the beach once they understand the situation. Take control of the situation, and make it a comfortable one.
