copperband is sick

[Big_Pun]

i just went to my tank and my copper band is laying on its side, its moves around a lil and then lays down. only thing new i added was a skimmer and a rock anenome, i think hes been picking at the anenome, yesterday i noticed it moved( it had been opening and eating)and i could still see lil tenticles hanging out, right now its closed up completley, im thinking the copperband was picking at it. anyone know if that could make him sick. my sisters goin to be sad if chang dies.(she named it)

[Mr Cob]

If you have a quarantine tank I'd put it in there. If not, add it to your refuge or sump to let it have some peace.

That's interesting about the rock anemone. I have no idea.

[snfkotara]

Wow Chris Im so sorry I have never had any of my fish pick at them to know if it would make them sick.

[corruption]

I don't think it would make it sick -- they're prolific eaters of Aiptasia usually... I'm with Rob, get it to somewhere with less action, more sedentary -- let it get some rest in a safe environment.. Monitor from there, but don't take any drastic actions without specific clues..

-Corruption

[Big_Pun]

cool I'm just letting him chill he's in a corner of my tank with low flow in some culepra, really breathing hard, we will just see

[Mr Cob]

Is your tank well oxygenated? It wouldn't hurt to add an airstone to the tank temporarily.

[Mr Cob]

I would also do a small water change...and keep lights out for a little while...maybe even just actinics. But, that's just me.

[hobogato]

have you checked for stray voltage, maybe coming from the skimmer you just added?

[snfkotara]

How much has the skimmer taken out if its up too high maybe its taking out some key element the your fish needs.

[Big_Pun]

skimmer is a prism mounted outside,skimming is set low in the couple days it's only filled lil more than 1/4 inch in cup, turning it off anyway, all the other fish are very active I shut off the koralias and doin 10 gallons in a lil bit

[Big_Pun]

ok I did a voltage test with my mag 7 I'm getting 6 volts when I kick on my koralias it jumps to 14 volts time to see which it is

[Big_Pun]

I have 3 koralias one is brand new and give voltage the heater itslef was giving 4-5 volt each koralia is giving like 2 or 3 the mag7 gives off some too

[Squiers007]

What other fish do you have in the tank. If the stray voltage is the problem, then I would think it would be affecting other fish and inverts as well. I know copper banded's can be a bit sensative, but this still seems odd. Any other visual signs of a disease or parasite? Any pictures of the fish by chance?

[txav8r]

I read somewhere that it's not actually the voltage (within reason) that harms the fish. The voltage running through the water is making Chlorine and that is what harms the inhabitants.

[Big_Pun]

he was swiming around picking at the rocks as usual this morn, then i saw him on his side, red mandarin, target mandarin, lawn mower blenny, twin spot gobby, yellow wrasse, small clown, chromi, 2 fire fish

[Big_Pun]

thats as best as i can get but no visual signs of anything

[carlinsa]

put it in the freezer.

[justahobby]

Could be shadows, but he looks very skinny

[Mr Cob]

How long have you had the Copperband?

[Mr Cob]

Could be shadows, but he looks very skinny

I was going to post the same thing. He looks undernourished to me as well. That's kind of where I was headed with my last question of how long Chris has had him. I'm thinking he's kind of new and just isn't happy from leaving the ocean.

[Big_Pun]

since august he eats pellets and misis

[Squiers007]

since august he eats pellets and misis

When was the last time you physically saw him eat?

[carlinsa]

When was the last time you physically saw him eat?

yes chris when was that. did you sit there and watch the fish eat. also if nothing else he may be just be dirty from all the salt. take him out and give him a good scubbing with soap and fresh water. make sure to get behind there fins thats where it really starts to build up.

[Big_Pun]

yesterday, when i put some formula one pellets, he spends the day picking at rocks, i always sit and watch whos eating what when i feed, i park a chair in front of the tank, that what he was doing this morn at 8 or 9 when i woke up and checked the tank, before the lights came on, your so funny carl shouldnt you be working i guess you wont be hunting this weekend

[carlinsa]

your so funny carl shouldnt you be working i guess you wont be hunting this weekend. I wish i were more awsome like you and had your truck. you are what i aspire to be. if i were a woman i would love you but since i am fluffy and a man it could never be

no unlike you i did work today cause i can exhaust my mind and body then go again the next day. well only cause i dont have sick days and if i dont work i dont get paid. but that is beside the point. an yes i will be hunting this weekend i have the key and maybe a new gun plus you want to use my 270 so :p

dont need to get all emotional on me there in the last part of your comment

[Kristy]

Copperbands are notoriously finicky eaters, so that is why so many are focused on his eating (plus the belly looking thin). I thought that I remembered you being concerned a couple of months ago that he had not accepted any prepared food, only picking at rocks, in which case there could be an issue with this new tank not having had a chance to become established enough in microfauna to keep up with him and feed him sufficiently.

Another thought, if he only recently began accepting prepared foods, is that they are not meeting his needs or agreeing with him somehow, so he is failing to eat enough to sustain him.

It's a terrible thing to lose a fish that won't eat. I have been there and it changed me forever to be a more responsible reefkeeper.

Good luck with him.

[justahobby]

Great post Kristy.

Now it will be funny if he posts another picture and the CB is fat!

[Big_Pun]

ive checked everything else water, did water change temps have been stable so maybe hes not eating as well, its the only fish acting weird so ill just to wait it out and hope for the best, Carl stop hating cuz i have sick days an only work 183 days a year jealousy is bad

[snfkotara]

well Chris I have a rock with some apstia you can pick up when you come over tonight with Gabe. If it makes him feel better maybe then I can do a weekly rock drop off and he can clean all my rock of those pest. LOL J/K I really hope he gets better and I have some garlic guard and some entice if you need it.

[carlinsa]

Carl stop hating cuz i have sick days an only work 183 days a year jealousy is bad

yes its true

[justahobby]

That's sort of asking for failure IMO. I would research more into acceptable foods. If it's not starvation it's not hurting to feed a little extra. I'm still at work so I can't do a lot but here's a quick reference.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/butter/CopperbandButterflyfish.php
Foods: Though the diet of the Copperband Butterflyfish is not currently documented, they are believed to feed heavily on tubeworms and small crustaceans. In captivity some will quickly accept fresh and frozen foods and be easy to maintain. Others will refuse to eat initially, but may be enticed to eat live foods offered in a way that simulates theirnatural feeding environment. Bloodworms pushed into rocks and corals, or live clams and black mussels with their shells cracked open have been reported as successful for these. Yet still others will refuse foods entirely and ultimately perish.
Offer a variety of meaty foods, dried flakes, prepared frozen foods, and tablets. Vegetables like lettuce or Japanese Nori (Asakusa-nori) may also be favored. Offer various foods quite frequently at first. Feed it at least twice a day. If it is a tiny juvenile, food should be provided frequently in small quantities, three or four times everyday. Once it is successfully acclimated it can become a fairly hardy fish, but for how long is unknown.


ive checked everything else water, did water change temps have been stable so maybe hes not eating as well, its the only fish acting weird so ill just to wait it out and hope for the best, Carl stop hating cuz i have sick days an only work 183 days a year jealousy is bad

[Big_Pun]

thanks sherry hes in my fuge with all the feather dusters and he wont even look at them i usually toss him a couple now and then and he eats them, i used to have alot of dusters before he cleaned up my rocks.

[Kristy]

I have heard lots of people mention some success with getting a copperband to eat clams from the seafood section of HEB. Would have to do a search to find someone's specific directions, but several people have referenced this.

[Kristy]

Try reading this...

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=50749&highlight=copperband+clams

[Bill S]

Mussels are the preferred product from HEB.

Richard at CB used to feed their new stock the PE Mysis. I keep that in the freezer. Gabe stocks it. It's REALLY fatty - and therefore tempting to them.

[Big_Pun]

thanks bill but i just got home and he was floating, really bummed out, thank you everyone for your input and help

[Pennies2Cents]

awwww man! Im sorry to hear Chris.. :(

[Big_Pun]

yea it happens not sure if im going to get another one, not any time soon

[justahobby]

Sorry Chris

[txav8r]

Sorry to hear that Chris.

[corruption]

I'm sorry to hear that, Chris :(

-Justin

[Gseclipse02]

Suck I thought he was going to pull threw

[Big_Pun]

in memory of Chang the copperband(lil sis named it)
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu357/stangchris/fish1.jpg