What are you doing for a CBB

[Nor'easter Reefer]

So, a copperband is a favprite of many, including myself. The problem with being a responsible reef keeper is stepping back and saying I cant keep one with my work schedule.
The hopeful reefer, comes to R2R and says "What are you fine folks with copperbands AND busy schedules doing to make it work for you?" In hopes theres tips and tricks for keeping these fish when you cant be home all day doing small frequent feedings. My wife, whom is a wonderful sport, said she could put a clam or a block of food into the tank in the mornings (easier the better, prep-able the night before is a bonus) and i feed frozen each night. I have a auto feeder dumping pellets in but obviously... its a copperband. Thanks!

 

[Gundy]

I feed my copperband twice a day with the feedings being on the larger side. If you can feed once in the morning and once at night you should be fine. I would strongly recommend to purchase your copperband from an online store who quarantines it and has it eating. Too many copperbands die from starvation or disease and it’s worth the extra money to make sure it’s disease free and eating.

 

[bubbgee]

I feed mine with frozen mysis. Make sure the tank has a ton of pods.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I think having an established reef with plenty of things to forage on is important. Unfortunately, I have had two CBB's that were collected using chemicals and while eating, their organs shut down about the 6-8 month mark and they give up the ghost. It is sad that there is no way to tell that this is the way the fish was collected until it is too late.

 

[exnisstech]

I would strongly recommend to purchase your copperband from an online store who quarantines it and has it eating. Too many copperbands die from starvation or disease and it’s worth the extra money to make sure it’s disease free and eating.

While I don't disagree with this I have found that just because a CBB is eating at the store does not guarantee it will eat when placed into a DT with other fish. Some do but some don't and perish.
I'm a fan of training mine in an observation tank to eat from the water column and have them swimming to me begging for food before I'll add them to the DT. Mine will compete with large tangs and the female loves the flake I feed but the male will only eat frozen.
OP if you can get one eating well like the two below I think feeding twice a day may work if you have a mature tank so they can feed on the critters in the rocks between feedings. Mine stay up foraging after lights out so that could offer a third opportunity to feed them depending on your schedule.

 

[Nordy]

I love a copperband in a reef setup also. I’ve had 4. In 2018, my first lasted a few months. A few month later, I bought another online. The second should’ve been named Rocky Balboa. I was supposed to get him on a Saturday, and FedEx didn’t come through. I went and picked him up Monday and the water was very cold and it was barely hanging on. I did my best as a fish medic to acclimate, and that copperband made a remarkable comeback, ate Aiptasia, any type of food offering, just one outstanding fish. That was Pikachu. Ended up moving and started a new tank last July. Of course I needed a copperband, but I was so busy, I failed to fully observe it enough, and the amount of flow I had going over swam that poor fish, and I couldn’t get it to feed, despite my efforts. Number 4 is something else. I wouldn’t say fat like my purple tang, but does eat frozen offerings that he likes to spit out. He’s doubled in size, usually stays busy poking the rock work, but it has been exhausting trying to keep him happy. I was happy when I first noticed an Aiptasia in my reef, because I thought the CBB would go to town. Turns out there Majanos, and I kinda think this current CBB isnt a dedicated Majano hit man. You should see my freezer in the garage, crammed full of fish food, selected mainly for the CBB, which isn’t accepted by it. Like Exnisstech does, you gotta dedicate time for training, put as much effort into there well being. I think I’ve read every trick out there to entice a feeding response, but printedreef has a CBB feeder that is great for the cause.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I got a lot, stocked up when I first started with minimal fish, and redose occasionally. Tanks about 1.5 years old. Thinking of trying phyto too, bottom of the food chain needs to be strong to support the rest kinda thing

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

While I don't disagree with this I have found that just because a CBB is eating at the store does not guarantee it will eat when placed into a DT with other fish. Some do but some don't and perish.
I'm a fan of training mine in an observation tank to eat from the water column and have them swimming to me begging for food before I'll add them to the DT. Mine will compete with large tangs and the female loves the flake I feed but the male will only eat frozen.
OP if you can get one eating well like the two below I think feeding twice a day may work if you have a mature tank so they can feed on the critters in the rocks between feedings. Mine stay up foraging after lights out so that could offer a third opportunity to feed them depending on your schedule.

I also have someone sending me a white worm culture, which supposedly stay alive in the tank a day or so. Which, although only a few times a week, give the CBB a good few days a week of solid hunting vs just the pods, amphipods etc. Unless they eat feather dusters... I have a LOT of small feather dusters. My tanks roughly 1.5 years old and stabilized nicely as far as parameter swings and algae growth etc.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I love a copperband in a reef setup also. I’ve had 4. In 2018, my first lasted a few months. A few month later, I bought another online. The second should’ve been named Rocky Balboa. I was supposed to get him on a Saturday, and FedEx didn’t come through. I went and picked him up Monday and the water was very cold and it was barely hanging on. I did my best as a fish medic to acclimate, and that copperband made a remarkable comeback, ate Aiptasia, any type of food offering, just one outstanding fish. That was Pikachu. Ended up moving and started a new tank last July. Of course I needed a copperband, but I was so busy, I failed to fully observe it enough, and the amount of flow I had going over swam that poor fish, and I couldn’t get it to feed, despite my efforts. Number 4 is something else. I wouldn’t say fat like my purple tang, but does eat frozen offerings that he likes to spit out. He’s doubled in size, usually stays busy poking the rock work, but it has been exhausting trying to keep him happy. I was happy when I first noticed an Aiptasia in my reef, because I thought the CBB would go to town. Turns out there Majanos, and I kinda think this current CBB isnt a dedicated Majano hit man. You should see my freezer in the garage, crammed full of fish food, selected mainly for the CBB, which isn’t accepted by it. Like Exnisstech does, you gotta dedicate time for training, put as much effort into there well being. I think I’ve read every trick out there to entice a feeding response, but printedreef has a CBB feeder that is great for the cause.

I planned on ordering one of those feeders! Might setup a isolated tank like @exnisstech suggested and train it to use the feeder at the same time. The LFS had one the last two weeks I went, seemed active and healthy, which makes me think it must be eating but I didnt ask as I figured it impossible for me

 

[exnisstech]

I planned on ordering one of those feeders! Might setup a isolated tank like @exnisstech suggested and train it to use the feeder at the same time. The LFS had one the last two weeks I went, seemed active and healthy, which makes me think it must be eating but I didnt ask as I figured it impossible for me

I forgot about the feeder. I have one and it does work well. The problem I had was more my other fish not the feeder. Once my big tangs figured out there was food in it they would wait for the CBB to start getting it out then they would attack the food and I was afraid the CBB might get its beak damaged if one if the fish ran into it while it had its beak in a hole so I stopped using it. It worked great when I had the CBB in observation where I had a couple of smaller fish.

 

[Nordy]

I forgot about the feeder. I have one and it does work well. The problem I had was more my other fish not the feeder. Once my big tangs figured out there was food in it they would wait for the CBB to start getting it out then they would attack the food and I was afraid the CBB might get its beak damaged if one if the fish ran into it while it had its beak in a hole so I stopped using it. It worked great when I had the CBB in observation where I had a couple of smaller fish.

I should try and post a video of my CBB going to the feeder for the food that thaws, the CBB pulls out a chunk, and all the other fish are watching and circling, like hungry piranhas, waiting to strike as the food escapes the feeder.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I

I forgot about the feeder. I have one and it does work well. The problem I had was more my other fish not the feeder. Once my big tangs figured out there was food in it they would wait for the CBB to start getting it out then they would attack the food and I was afraid the CBB might get its beak damaged if one if the fish ran into it while it had its beak in a hole so I stopped using it. It worked great when I had the CBB in observation where I had a couple of smaller fish.

Have a small tomini and a foxface so hopefully no problems as the cbb will most likely be bigger than my tomini and my foxface is the biggest coward i've ever seen.

 

[exnisstech]

You may be able to use a large acclimation box provided the CBB will eat. When I added my male I did not use a box and the female immediately attacked and pinned the male in a corner and I had to rescue him. Back to observation for another month while its fins healed.
Second time I made a box out of a reptile carrier. I used a piece of heated metal tubing to melt holes in it. The holes were large enough for food to pass through so I would squirt food into the box and the tangs would mob the box to get food as it fell through. I believe it really helped the new addition build confidence with all the big fish swimming around yet it was able to feed. I think it gave the illusion it was competing with them because they were so close.
It was cool when I released him. I removed the lid and the female who had previously attacked him swam into the box and introduced herself and they swam out together. One of those positive memorable moments for me.

Introduction time.

 

[Uncle99]

Like many new additions, they all can be slow feeding at first.

Mine fed at the store, PE mysis, a larger food item.
The store sent me home with PE mysis.

Day one on observation was no eat.
Day two was 1-2 mysis.
Day three around 5.
By weeks end was feeding aggressively.

Transferred following week to DT.
All Aptasia gone in 30 days.

No feeding or aggression issues and I have several large tangs.

My scariest addition turned out to be the easiest.






First pic Observation Tank where it’s easier to control, second is in the DT.

 

[Paul B]

I have been keeping Copperbands since the 70s and feed my fish once a day and sometimes not even every day.
They get no special treatment and are one of my favorite fish.
This guy lived for 10 years.

I give my fish chopped clams, live white worms, frozen mysis or commercial frozen foods.

 

[Nordy]

I have been keeping Copperbands since the 70s and feed my fish once a day and sometimes not even every day.
They get no special treatment and are one of my favorite fish.
This guy lived for 10 years.

I give my fish chopped clams, live white worms, frozen mysis or commercial frozen foods.

Pretty cool, like the little pyramidal Pygmy Hawk doing his thing

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I have been keeping Copperbands since the 70s and feed my fish once a day and sometimes not even every day.
They get no special treatment and are one of my favorite fish.
This guy lived for 10 years.

I give my fish chopped clams, live white worms, frozen mysis or commercial frozen foods.

Luckily for yours, you have a extremely diverse reef! I've read some of your stuff and obviously they have no issues finding good food!

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

LFS sold the one I was hoping to buy. Had been there 3 weeks before it sold surprisingly!

 

[reely989]

I’m not sure if you’re opposed to online but every copperband I’ve gotten from Dr reef has eaten frozen food readily.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I’m not sure if you’re opposed to online but every copperband I’ve gotten from Dr reef has eaten frozen food readily.

I've bought fish from him in the past! Might just have to check him out!