Ordering copperband butterflyfish? Dr. Reef?

[Atherial]

I've been wanting to get a copperband butterflyfish for my 90g tank. My LFS which is normally awesome doesn't want to order it for me as they have a lot of trouble keeping the copperbands alive. I don't have a quarantine tank setup so I need to buy the copperband pre-quarantined. Has anyone ordered one from Dr. Reef or anywhere else and had good luck? Or is there any place in the WI/IL area that would have one pre-quarantined?

 

[hunterallen40]

I got lucky with my second one (first died in QT). My second one was from an LFS, and has been with me for almost two years. Love that fish.

If I were you, though, I would wait for fishotel to have them again. Subscribe to their news letter and watch for it! I have been nothing short of completely satisfied with the fish I have received from there.

https://fishotel.com/product-category/quarantined-fish/

 

[TimSt]

I got one from Dr. Reef. In my case it was eating clams on the half shell within a couple of days, and then frozen food (Rod's and LRS) maybe a week after that. Bought the dang thing to eat aiptasia--hasn't touched any of that.

Very happy with the CBB I got from Dr. Reef!

 

[Genvid]

Received mine about one year ago from Dr. Reef, very pleased. He eats everything frozen from the first day, avoids dry food and pellets. Especially fond of red worms. Buy from Dr. Reef with confidence, my personal experience. Glad if it helped you.

 

[Angry German]

I just got one a few weeks ago. Had him in an acclimation box for a week and he would not eat mysis or bloodworms which they recommended to feed. I don't think he liked being in the box although it was fairly large. Finally I tried a a clam that I attached to a rock as seen on some you tube videos and he started eating. He now eats frozen mysis, clams, and even nori. Doing great, I would recommend Dr Reef.

 

[MySonWantedAHamster]

I'll chime in with my experience so far - I got my Copperband from DrReefs about a month ago. I kept him in an acclimation box for two days where he ate a little. After leaving him out he picked at the rocks nonstop, but wasn't eating any of the frozen buffet I was offering up (LRS, Mega Marine, PE Mysis, clams, mussels, krill, etc..). After a couple days I started to get concerned and sent an email to DrReefs. He recommended live black worms. Hustled down to the one LFS that had them. The next day the CBB started eating PE Mysis. It was probably a week+ before he finally settled in and really started going after the mysis at feeding time. Now I see him eating a variety of food although mysis still seems to be the favorite. You know none of my fish would eat any of those live black worms... smh. Got a Flame Angel at the same time; both are looking good.

I would certainly give thumbs up to ordering from Dr Reefs.

 

[MySonWantedAHamster]

Bought the dang thing to eat aiptasia--hasn't touched any of that.

Same here... won't even look at it.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I have one coming from wwc on the 18th I will let you know how he is

 

[Atherial]

Thank you everyone. I placed my order with Dr. Reef a few minutes ago. Hopefully my new fish will do well.

 

[hubble]

I have ordered from Dr. Reef before and have an order placed with him now ( Fox face, Convict tang). Have been very pleased and will always get my fish from him.

 

[FishTacos2]

I just got one a few weeks ago. Had him in an acclimation box for a week and he would not eat mysis or bloodworms which they recommended to feed. I don't think he liked being in the box although it was fairly large. Finally I tried a a clam that I attached to a rock as seen on some you tube videos and he started eating. He now eats frozen mysis, clams, and even nori. Doing great, I would recommend Dr Reef.

Did he eventually eat in the box or did he not eat til you released him

 

[exnisstech]

Don't assume that because a CBB is eating at a vendor that means it will continue eating when added to your tank. Often they do but it isn't unusual to have to condition them to eat the foods you offer. A nice tank with some rock and no other fish has worked well for me. This is the tank I used to observe mine and train it to eat. They often do poorly competing for food in the water column until trained to do so. I like to see mine swimming to the front of the tank begging for food before I think about adding them to the DT.

I would have a variety of foods on hand. Live black or white worms were favorites of mine and even earth worms from the yard were welcomed. Mine didn't take to clams but I didn't push them because its not a food I would be able to feed them in my DT due to having large tangs that would out compete them. In addition to live worms I kept a brine shrimp hatchery running and fed several different frozen foods heavy on PE mysis.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Fishotel one I got a couple years ago even eats nori for some reason . But I trust that vendor because its white glove throughout the process. To the point where videos or photos can be sent to you if you ask to see your fish. Plus the communication is daily via the forum on humble.fish

 

[mfinn]

My Copper Banded Butterfly came from Dr. Reef and I added him directly into the display tank.
I figured since it was completely quarantined and eating for Dr. Reef, adding him to the tank was a no brainer.
If anything starts a new fish eating is the feeding response by the rest of the tank.
Plus I keep all the pumps on when feeding and with the mysis moving, it acts as if it were alive.

 

[exnisstech]

My Copper Banded Butterfly came from Dr. Reef and I added him directly into the display tank.
I figured since it was completely quarantined and eating for Dr. Reef, adding him to the tank was a no brainer.
If anything starts a new fish eating is the feeding response by the rest of the tank.
Plus I keep all the pumps on when feeding and with the mysis moving, it acts as if it were alive.

I was afraid mine wouldn't be able or willing to compete in my tank so I opted to condition them alone. I also don't medicate or buy QTed fish so I like to observe all new additions for a minimum of 30 days before adding to my DT. I actually bought my male CBB from a lfs knowing it wasn't eating because they wanted twice as much for one that was eating. No problems competing for food once conditioned.