Copperband Butterfly

[Starr]

Another question!! I have never kept one in my personal tanks, but have a chance to get one that is not picky, eats mysis frozen like a pig, but still a little weary. Whats the longest you have kept one of these guys?

[Bill S]

Jump on it...

[brewercm]

I've finally gotten one from Fin Addict that appears to be doing great. Even picking a little bit at the aptasia.

[safeuerwehr]

Got mine from Aquatic Warehouse in Late May.....doing great after eating all of my aptasia.....

[RNall]

The one I got from AW after the fire just died tonight :(

I think it was a freak thing though. He was eating well. He stopped yesterday and this afternoon he had a bb sized hole on his side...very weird. I've never seen anything like it. Now he is gone.

Great fish though if you get them eating.

[GaryP]

The problem with CBB is that they usually come from the wild with a lot of parasites, especially flukes. They can take a while to get used to a new tank and eating well. A lot do not survive theis period. When nutitional stress becomes an issue, it allows the parasites to become a larger problem. I know that CB Pets always FW dipped their CBBs and Richard told me you could see the flukes falling off of them.

The one "trick" that I have found that is often useful to get a CBB eating is to start them off with live black mussels from HEB. The other is to feed them before and after the lights are off when the other fish are less active. CBB are dawn and dusk feeders in the wild. They will eventually adapt to your feeding times. I have never seen these guys eat flake, so don't even bother. They will hunt on their own. They'll eat pods, worms (including bristle worms), and of course aiptasia.

They are a great fish, but rather demanding. They have to be fed every day, at least once, and twice is better. If you are one of those people that decides to cut back on feeding every time you see hair algae, this is not the fish for you. Generally they are not a fish I would recommend for a SW beginner unless they are willing to put in the research before the purchase, and the effort after the purchase.

[SueT]

my copperband just loves bristleworms. craziest thing I have ever seen. I can be messing in my tank and unearth a bw and this fish will chow down on that thing like it's going outta style. And mine also loves PE brand mysis.

Like Gary said they will not eat flake.

[Bill S]

Mine eats out of my hand. And, isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with a bunch of tangs for food.

[Starr]

Has anyone kept one longer than a year?

[Louie3]

I have never seen these guys eat flake, so don't even bother. They will hunt on their own. They'll eat pods, worms (including bristle worms), and of course aiptasia. .
My CBB ate flakes, for some reason he'd choose the flakes over the frozen foods. But if you know you have alot of bristle worms in your tank a CB is good, well it worked for me but then again my tank is weird

[SueT]

My copperband has been with me going on 6 years. Come december... It was about the size of a quarter when I got it. It was supposed to be much bigger but stuff happened. In the end it all worked out and it's been the absolute coolest fish I have had so far in this hobby.

[Starr]

I got the CBB and he is doing great. Im still a little worried but couldnt pass on the price. He does eat flakes if I mix them with his mysis. Only problem is he is to shy and hides most of time even during feeding and that means the other fish are beating him to most of the food.

[SueT]

you will need to make sure the copperband gets it's fair share of the food. These fish need the food and being shy is part of their personality. If you have to feed more than once a day or smaller portions just so the copperband gets food it'll have to be done. Once they stop eating it's a lot harder to get them eating again.

[Starr]

Just like the fish I take care of, my fish at home get two regular feedings and on my days of three. So I am a little worried about his shyness but not to much. Im sure once he gets used to the tank he will come out more often. As for you (SueT) keeping one for six years, wow, thats great.

[safeuerwehr]

Starr...mine was very shy when i first introduced him into my tank....it took about a week or so for him to venture out of his comfort zone....now hes all over the tank picking at the rocks and substrate....and come feeding time he has no problem taking on a sailfin tang twice his size for food....so give him a few days for him to acclimate...

alfred

[SueT]

Thanks Starr, this fish is my baby. lol.. Sounds like yours will do fine for you.

[GaryP]

I got the CBB and he is doing great. Im still a little worried but couldnt pass on the price. He does eat flakes if I mix them with his mysis. Only problem is he is to shy and hides most of time even during feeding and that means the other fish are beating him to most of the food.
Try feeding him early and late, before and after the lights are out. Eventually the other fish will catch on, but untill then you'll get him feeding and less shy. I used to feed them black mussels like this. Eventually everyone was waking early and staying up late. Mussels are a great food for most fish anyway so I just made it a regular part of what I fed the tank. Even is a CBB is shy about eating frozen, he will bully his way through to get to the mussels.