Copperband feeding issue and redish spot on tummy

[nanomania]

@nanomania I'm very sorry you lost the fish, but repeated FW dips are not to be taken lightly. You do it once as a diagnostic tool (to check for flukes), but any more than that should be reserved for fish battling severe velvet, brook, fluke infestations, etc.

IME; one FW dip is usually fine - but every time you do it after that, the risk of something going wrong increases. Especially if the fish has not had enough time to recover in-between FW dips.

Ok

 

[Humblefish]

Also (and I'm not trying to beat you over the head here), doing a FW dip is a very precise thing. The temp of the dip water must match the QT perfectly, and I like to heavily aerate the water both 30 mins before and during the FW dip. Squirting a little SW tank water into the FW dip will help raise the pH just before the fish goes in. Also, be sure to only use RODI or clean water from a healthy freshwater aquarium for the dip.

I've done probably hundreds of FW dips, but I still check and double check every little thing before the fish goes in. This reduces the possibility of something going wrong. When that does happen, I can usually trace it back to some little mistake I made.

 

[nanomania]

As for cbb, I added a clam.. it just looks at it and that's it, nipped twice, but did not eat. The clam was not frozen and was alive. Nipped at masstick too, also today I squirted some chopped mussel. Don't know wether it ate or no. As it still looks slim

 

[Paul B]

I shread that clam into tiny pieces he can eat whole. Copperbands are not big in the teeth department.

 

[aykwm]

So sorry to hear about the purple tang, as Humblefish mentioned FW dips are not recommended frequently probably maximum 2 times is more than enough within the quarantine period. Did you check the water parameters for any ammonia buildup?

For the yellow tang, did you treat for flukes yet? It might be flukes, if you can also post a photo that will help.

For CBB try shredding the clam to tiny pieces as it has tiny mouth, also since its eating masstick, keep one available in the tank.

Best of luck

 

[nanomania]

 

[Paul B]

Now he is looking like a copperband should.

 

[Humblefish]

@nanomania That's awesome!

 

[Paul B]

Feed him a few times a day until he puts on weight and keep feeding him meaty stuff like clams. I wouldn't use too much processed, commercial food unless you have to but a copperband thrives on the proper diet of clams and if you can get them, live worms, even small earthworms.

 

[nanomania]

@Humblefish @Paul B

Just worried about the competition in the main tank. As my acanthurus and blue sides flasher are crazy eaters.. will that be an issue? I also have chopped mussels and chopped cockles etc.

 

[Areseebee]

A fairly simple solution would be to make one of these "copperband feeders" likes this:

You could use QT time to introduce him to the contraption.

 

[Humblefish]

Just worried about the competition in the main tank. As my acanthurus and blue sides flasher are crazy eaters.. will that be an issue? I also have chopped mussels and chopped cockles etc.

Until a CBB gets settled in, they are usually not good at competing with other fish for food. See solution below:



Video credit goes to @saltyhog

 

[nanomania]

A fairly simple solution would be to make one of these "copperband feeders" likes this:

You could use QT time to introduce him to the contraption.

Kool, what's there in that tube?

 

[nanomania]

Until a CBB gets settled in, they are usually not good at competing with other fish for food. See solution below:



Video credit goes to @saltyhog

I'll have to start hand feeding it in qt

 

[nanomania]

What if I make a hole in the clam shell? Will that work??

 

[Areseebee]

In the tube can be anything the fish eat really. Like you could just stick a clam in it and so long as the device was small enough the copperband will be able to reach and nobody else will be able to. I will say though, I was nervous about my CBB competing with my fish, I would feed LRS or something to distract the other fish then blackworms when they weren't looking, however after two or three days it wasn't a problem and he seems to have picked up eating frozen from them too.

 

[Paul B]

That food is fine, but those clams that you didn't get in those little commercial plastic pouches is better because it has more bacteria in it. I would try to feed him some food that you can buy fresh like those clams besides that commercial stuff. I know most of us (including me) use that pre packaged stuff because it is easy. But food you can buy fresh at a fish market is better and cheaper.

 

[nanomania]

That food is fine, but those clams that you didn't get in those little commercial plastic pouches is better because it has more bacteria in it. I would try to feed him some food that you can buy fresh like those clams besides that commercial stuff. I know most of us (including me) use that pre packaged stuff because it is easy. But food you can buy fresh at a fish market is better and cheaper.

How many clams to feed? Can I buy fresh and leave them in an extra tank? How to keep them alive. I can buy monthly stock. Or do I freeze them?

 

[Maritimer]

You can freeze whole clams, but for one fish, it might be best to open them first. Freeze them on the half-shell, and shave as needed.

~Bruce

 

[Paul B]

Buy live and freeze them. Your home freezer won't kill all the bacteria and it is much better for the fishes immune system.