Copperband Butterfly

[ccampbell57]

Anyone had one of these? My friend just bought one and it is skittish to say the least. It is in a 75g tank and it was bought for Aiptasia cleaning.
Any ideas on how to get this sucker to eat or come out?

 

[sk8shorty01]

I wasnt aware that they eat aptasia. I had one, he didnt last to long in my tank, but that was a while ago (vacations and fish tanks dont mix). Just put food in and hope that he gets hungry enough to come out and get some grub.

 

[reefer75]

I had one, and it was shy for a while. I hope this tank is well established. Give it some time it will take a bit for him to get familiar with the tank. As far as apstasia, Mine ate it.

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by reefer75
I had one, and it was shy for a while. I hope this tank is well established. Give it some time it will take a bit for him to get familiar with the tank. As far as apstasia, Mine ate it.
Ok - he was great at the LFS all over the place. He was there for 4 weeks so there were no signs of sickness. I guess that he is just getting acclimated.
Ill keep you all up to date.

 

[trigger11]

Originally Posted by ccampbell57
Ok - he was great at the LFS all over the place. He was there for 4 weeks so there were no signs of sickness. I guess that he is just getting acclimated.
Ill keep you all up to date.
I have a copperband butterfly and he is always going all over the place picking at the LR. I have definitely noticed they require a lot of LR for food. It took him two weeks before he decided to touch any aiptasia. Then he went to town on it. He left one. Guess he thought he would let that one make some more so he can eat them.
What have you been trying to feed him? The only prepared food I have been able to get mine to eat is mysis shrimp. He eats it out of my hand now. He's not bashful at all. If my hand is in the tank he is around it.

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by trigger11
I have a copperband butterfly and he is always going all over the place picking at the LR. I have definitely noticed they require a lot of LR for food. It took him two weeks before he decided to touch any aiptasia. Then he went to town on it. He left one. Guess he thought he would let that one make some more so he can eat them.
What have you been trying to feed him? The only prepared food I have been able to get mine to eat is mysis shrimp. He eats it out of my hand now. He's not bashful at all. If my hand is in the tank he is around it.

Well, like I said, this is a friend's copperband, he has been trying to feed him flake, I came over last night and tried to feed him Brine shrimp. You think mysis is the way to go?

 

[fish4ever]

From what I have noticed and read, mysis is one of the main things that should be in a butterflies diet anyways.

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by fish4ever
From what I have noticed and read, mysis is one of the main things that should be in a butterflies diet anyways.
Ok...I will have him pick up some mysis from the LFS today.

 

[mcbdz]

Try a little garlic soaked brine and mysis mix. I have read they are hard to get to eat.

 

[dinogeorge]

I have a tank dedicated to butterflies and after years of trial and error, here is what works best to get a Copperband, and any other longnosed variety, to eat:
1)Take a cube of frozen brine shrimp and place one drop of garlic on it.
2)Allow the cube to absorb the garlic but not to the point where the cube begins to thaw. (Place it in the fridge while you let the garlic absorb into the cube.)
3)Buy a small dead brain coral skeleton, or even use one of the reproduced copies you find in the LFS.
4)Take the frozen cube of brine shrimp and rub it onto the brain coral. Try to “grind” it into the coral head so that it is difficult to remove.
5)Take what’s left of your cube, that you could not push into the brain coral, and feed the tank with it, while simultaneously placing the “seeded” brain coral into the tank.
This has worked time and again for me. You’ll see that other fish inhabitants go after the free floating brine, and your long nosed copperband will begin to pick at the brain coral. It may not seem that it is getting enough food like that, but all this is doing is “kick starting” his eating habits. Once he grows accustomed to the food, he will start to feed like any other member of your tank. It sounds time consuming but you are peaking his basic feeding habits and trying to get him established in his new home. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by Dinogeorge
I have a tank dedicated to butterflies and after years of trial and error, here is what works best to get a Copperband, and any other longnosed variety, to eat:
1)Take a cube of frozen brine shrimp and place one drop of garlic on it.
2)Allow the cube to absorb the garlic but not to the point where the cube begins to thaw. (Place it in the fridge while you let the garlic absorb into the cube.)
3)Buy a small dead brain coral skeleton, or even use one of the reproduced copies you find in the LFS.
4)Take the frozen cube of brine shrimp and rub it onto the brain coral. Try to “grind” it into the coral head so that it is difficult to remove.
5)Take what’s left of your cube, that you could not push into the brain coral, and feed the tank with it, while simultaneously placing the “seeded” brain coral into the tank.
This has worked time and again for me. You’ll see that other fish inhabitants go after the free floating brine, and your long nosed copperband will begin to pick at the brain coral. It may not seem that it is getting enough food like that, but all this is doing is “kick starting” his eating habits. Once he grows accustomed to the food, he will start to feed like any other member of your tank. It sounds time consuming but you are peaking his basic feeding habits and trying to get him established in his new home. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks Dino!!! This is very insiteful! I will have him try this method and see what happens

 

[kevin34]

Any update? I am thinking about a copperband for my future reef tank.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by ccampbell57
Well, like I said, this is a friend's copperband, he has been trying to feed him flake, I came over last night and tried to feed him Brine shrimp. You think mysis is the way to go?
I can't imagine trying to get any difficult fish to eat flake food. Just 5 mins or research would have told your friend that much. Try frozen mysiss, very (freeze and grate) finely chopped shrimp, crab or even squid. These are very picky eaters, some cyclop-eeze in the water ofter gets real finicky eaters to start. Frozen formula I, again, finely minced might work too. A little garlic mixed with any of the above should help too, almost all fish love it. (Dogs too!) IMO, flake food is only good for, well I guess I can't of anything its really good for. Some pellets are OK, again, IMO. But, I think reluctant feeders are much more likely to try fresh or quality frozen foods. And, yes, they will eat aptasia. If you are considering a Copperband, take a look at the Yellow Longnose Butterfly; similar shape, but a much easier fish to keep--they're not nearly as fragile as they look.

 

[scubaguy]

My Yellow Longnose Butterfly loves blood worms, squid and freeze dried mysis shrimp.

 

[rdhanley]

i have 2 copperband butterflies. one is in the 125 gallon tank, one in 55 gallon tank. within 2 days, they were eating like pigs. i only feedback my saltwater fish frozen food.
marine
emarold entree
mysis
angel and butterfly.
manufacturer is san franciso.

 

[kevin34]

Originally Posted by rdhanley
i have 2 copperband butterflies. one is in the 125 gallon tank, one in 55 gallon tank. within 2 days, they were eating like pigs. i only feedback my saltwater fish frozen food.
marine
emarold entree
mysis
angel and butterfly.
manufacturer is san franciso.
Are either of your copperbands in a reef tank?

 

[dinogeorge]

Originally Posted by Kevin34
Are either of your copperbands in a reef tank?
Yes, both of mine are in the same 180 reef tank.

 

[rdhanley]

Originally Posted by Kevin34
Are either of your copperbands in a reef tank?

no they are not. they keep the pesty glass anemones down though

 

[zman1]

Originally Posted by trigger11
The only food I have been able to get mine to eat is mysis shrimp. He's not bashful at all.
Ditto - Frozen Mysis only for th one I have, other than aiptasia and fan worms.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by zman1
Ditto - Frozen Mysis only for th one I have, other than aiptasia and fan worms.
Good basic food them; but I'd also use a couple of the foods Kevin34 mentions. All fish need some variety and , even though most butterflies are considered carnivores, some vegi matter is appreciated . Most butterflies and smaller angels love Hikari frozen mega-marine angel once in a while. There is such a variety of frozen food on the market, and I've found a place to buy it reasonably, I may quit making my own. But I just made a batch, so that will be a while.