Copperbands

[mharris7]

I've had a horrible time with Copperbands. I can't keep the guys alive. I've tried 3 or 4 over the past couple years(different vendors). What's the secret? I've got aiptasia in hard to reach places that's taking over........ plus they're just really cool fish.

[mharris7]

2 were eating fine (frozen mysis) - one of those lasted a few weeks and then developed a lump on his side. He quit eating at this point and wasted away. The other that was eating developed a weird discoloration from his gills down the length of his jaw on one side of his face. This happened after a couple of days and then he died shortly thereafter. The other two picked at the rocks but never ate offered foods. This has been over the space of a couple years in 2 different tanks. Water params all looked good.

I've noticed a lot of folks here talking about keeping them with success and just wondered what the "trick" is.

[matt]

Talk with Larry; Instar. Maybe do a search on his posts about copperbands. There is a lot of info in those posts, I'm sure.

[GaryP]

Larry is definitely the copperband guru. He is also trying to breed Berghia nudibranch for aiptasia control. It might take him a little while to get back to you. He is rather busy right now taking care of his mite problem.

Gary

[SueT]

mharris, I've had my copperband for over 3 years now and I don't know of any trick to keeping them. You find that some will eat aiptasia{mine won't touch them}, and some do good for a short time and then go into recession. Mine has even been so sick for me to consider taking the fish out of the tank to euthanize. This happened and then the fish began to eat PE brand mysis shrimp again and is now back to it's former self. Fat, sassy and allows me to pet it while I'm working in the tank.

I think a lot of the future health of these fish depend on how the fish is collected, shipped and then acclimated to our LFS's. How long the fish might be in the store and whether the store actively is trying to get the fish to eat or just sell it befire it dies on them.

[Tim Marvin]

The trick to keeping them, like all delicate fish is to start with a good supplier. Then the purchaser MUST do a VERY slow drip acclimation, like 6-8 hours or more if you are patient. If you don't do these two things to start with they will make it about 2 weeks if you are lucky. Usually 3-4 days. There is always an exception though. After you get them acclimated and into the system the next trick is getting them to eat. Freshwater clams, mysid, brine shrimp, and other small meaty foods usually will work. You may have to use mosquito larva or other foods if these don't work. Once you get them eating pretty good they are pretty quick to take other foods and mine will even eat flake. I have lost 2 in the last couple years out of about 25-30 ordered. I firmly beleive in a slow drip acclimation on these guys.

[mharris7]

Well, I never drip acclimate. I might try again. Anyone know of a good source to get them from? If they eat freshwater clams, will they go after a tridacna?