Copperbanded Butterfly in reef
- Thread starter casey75
- Start date
danno
New Member
Is it me or does buying a Copper for aptasia seem a bit much?
Sure they are annoying, but it's nothing a squirt of some hot (150 degrees F +)water couldn't take care of. Takes a couple of "doses" to get rid of them all but no sign of them for 5 months now. Impact to the rest of the tank is minimal since SW is a good insulator. And ecological impact is also minimal if that is an issue, which for me it is.
Sure they are annoying, but it's nothing a squirt of some hot (150 degrees F +)water couldn't take care of. Takes a couple of "doses" to get rid of them all but no sign of them for 5 months now. Impact to the rest of the tank is minimal since SW is a good insulator. And ecological impact is also minimal if that is an issue, which for me it is.
danno
New Member
I pick the hot water, and addressing it before it gets to a point where it threatens other inhabitants.
I am a rather paranoid person and I headed it off at first sight, and I have none.
My concern is this.
If one has a "outbreak" it is hard to beleive that this same person is competent enough to handle a Copper B. A serious outbreak is a good ltmus test to how well a tank is "babied". IMO.
I see you logic, however, I too would rather eat the cost in the form of a beautiful fish. But, I can just see some newbie doing a search on how to rid aptasia and coming accross this thread and going out and buying one with out a second thought. Newbies really like all the cool fish you know. It seems like all the newbies get all the cool fish, and all the people who know a bit have one or two plain fish because they are trying hard to recreate an "appropriate" ecosystem.
anyway
I am a rather paranoid person and I headed it off at first sight, and I have none.
My concern is this.
If one has a "outbreak" it is hard to beleive that this same person is competent enough to handle a Copper B. A serious outbreak is a good ltmus test to how well a tank is "babied". IMO.
I see you logic, however, I too would rather eat the cost in the form of a beautiful fish. But, I can just see some newbie doing a search on how to rid aptasia and coming accross this thread and going out and buying one with out a second thought. Newbies really like all the cool fish you know. It seems like all the newbies get all the cool fish, and all the people who know a bit have one or two plain fish because they are trying hard to recreate an "appropriate" ecosystem.
anyway
slowest is fastest
Member
Will copperbands eat aptasia...YEP
Will some copperbands turn their noses up at it....YEP
I have a CB in a 120 gallon softie tank and have yet to see it eat any aptasia or pick on any of the other polyps/corals. He/She has been quite happy eating cyclopeeze or brine shrimp.
I wonder which is more of "a bit much" buying a CB to eat aptasia or introducing aptasia and letting it multiply purposely BEFORE getting one (which is what I did). I wonder how that figures into the "ecological impact" of my tank. :thinking:
In my humble opinion an "outbreak" of any kind, be it aptasia, algae, flatworms etc is not always avoidable or intentional (although somtetimes it is ....both
) That however makes a person neither a newbie nor incompetent and certainly doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of husbandry on the part of this hobbyist.
While the difficulty in acclimating and thereby successfully keeping a Copperband long term is certainly more than a damsel is is by no means IMO an expert only fish and quite suitable for a mature system under the care of someone who has done the proper research newbie or not! I found mine to be far easier to keep than my Leopard Wrasse or Purple Queen anthias.
I do not think a reef tank (or any other system for that matter) has to be (nor is mine) bland or plain to be successful albeit a few less fish, colorful or not, would cut down on a little maintenance.
Casey75
If you are looking for another fish to add to your tank and it solves another problem you have then it seems to me that you are getting your money worth out of a Copperband. Do the proper research (before buying) and if you feel "you" and "your system" meet the requirements then they are very cool fish to have IMO/E. If you simply want to eliminate or control the aptasia then their are other very viable means without adding more livestock (one example mentioned above) I would research them as well.
Good Luck
SiF
Will some copperbands turn their noses up at it....YEP
I have a CB in a 120 gallon softie tank and have yet to see it eat any aptasia or pick on any of the other polyps/corals. He/She has been quite happy eating cyclopeeze or brine shrimp.
I wonder which is more of "a bit much" buying a CB to eat aptasia or introducing aptasia and letting it multiply purposely BEFORE getting one (which is what I did). I wonder how that figures into the "ecological impact" of my tank. :thinking:
In my humble opinion an "outbreak" of any kind, be it aptasia, algae, flatworms etc is not always avoidable or intentional (although somtetimes it is ....both
) That however makes a person neither a newbie nor incompetent and certainly doesn't necessarily indicate a lack of husbandry on the part of this hobbyist.While the difficulty in acclimating and thereby successfully keeping a Copperband long term is certainly more than a damsel is is by no means IMO an expert only fish and quite suitable for a mature system under the care of someone who has done the proper research newbie or not! I found mine to be far easier to keep than my Leopard Wrasse or Purple Queen anthias.
I do not think a reef tank (or any other system for that matter) has to be (nor is mine) bland or plain to be successful albeit a few less fish, colorful or not, would cut down on a little maintenance.
Casey75
If you are looking for another fish to add to your tank and it solves another problem you have then it seems to me that you are getting your money worth out of a Copperband. Do the proper research (before buying) and if you feel "you" and "your system" meet the requirements then they are very cool fish to have IMO/E. If you simply want to eliminate or control the aptasia then their are other very viable means without adding more livestock (one example mentioned above) I would research them as well.
Good Luck
SiF
jacknjill
Active Member
i wouldnt reccomend boiling water. not to say it doesnt work, but the aptaisia will come back. i use kalkwasser mixed into a thick paste with water. then i pop it in the microwave until boiling. then blast them. now you have two treatments combined. they just melt away. i admit, i enjoy killing them lol. i hope this doesnt make me a bad person :thinking: also you can use large amounts and it wont harm anything, and if it gets onto other corals, it wont do a thing to them. boiling water will.
about the copperbanded butterfly. most of the time they will eat them, but with most things in this hobby, its a hit or miss. the downside is, they need larger tanks. 70 gallons minimum
about the copperbanded butterfly. most of the time they will eat them, but with most things in this hobby, its a hit or miss. the downside is, they need larger tanks. 70 gallons minimum
saltydog
Member
Casey,
I've had my Copperband for a couple years and he has been a great addition to my tank. I don't have many fish, Yellow Tang, CB, and 2) clowns in my 75. The tang for algea, the CB for aptasia and the clowns to keep my anemone company. I must say, the CB is my favorite. I may be a lucky one but he loves aptasia and eats mysis like theres no tomorrow. I haven't seen an aptasia (outside my sump) in as long as I can remember. It used to look like a bred them.
Good luck.
-Salty
I've had my Copperband for a couple years and he has been a great addition to my tank. I don't have many fish, Yellow Tang, CB, and 2) clowns in my 75. The tang for algea, the CB for aptasia and the clowns to keep my anemone company. I must say, the CB is my favorite. I may be a lucky one but he loves aptasia and eats mysis like theres no tomorrow. I haven't seen an aptasia (outside my sump) in as long as I can remember. It used to look like a bred them.
Good luck.
-Salty
S
starfishjackedme
Guest
Calcium chloride w/ a syringe. Once and it never comes back. Kent marine has a calcium maintenance additive that is calcium chloride that I used. I had a 10 cc syringe w/ a 20 gauge needle. Mixed it up strong, inject the body, works like nothing else does. You can also epoxy the thing into the rock.
bergamer
Active Member
here is a great article on ridding these buggers
http://www.thekrib.com/Marine/aptasia.html
http://www.thekrib.com/Marine/aptasia.html
S
starfishjackedme
Guest
nothing like a mad scientist shooting things up in the aquarium!
:scared:
slowest is fastest
Member
obarrera
I don't want to hijack this thread...start a new one and I will post there.
SiF
I don't want to hijack this thread...start a new one and I will post there.
SiF