I put mine directly in the main tank. He was chased by my Powder Blue for several days, hiding behind the rock and 'running scared'. When the PB finally let up, the Copperband was fine. If your Copperband was just shipped in, I would probably put him in the prop tank and get him eating before subjecting him to the tangs in the main tank. Mine eats PE Mysis, mussels, and little neck clams. HTH.