Copperbanded Butterfly eating Nassarius Snail Tubes

ducky · 11/09/2007, 01:17 PM

I just noticed today at feeding time when all of my snails came out my CB systematically went around to each one and tried to eat their tubes. The snails seemed to recover and started moving around but I didn't see any tubes on them, I am not sure if they are gone or if they are retracted. But I watched my CB actually checking each of them out after he had already munched on them to see if their tubes were out again so that he could have another bite. Anyone else have this problem? Will the tubes grow back if he did indeed eat them?

HPD Turbo · 11/09/2007, 01:39 PM

Are you feeding you CBB anything else?, you may stop this to happen by a correct feeding.
Dont know about tubes growing back

Good look.

HPD Turbo · 11/09/2007, 01:39 PM

oh, and welcome to RC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ducky · 11/09/2007, 02:13 PM

I feed frozen mysis, brine, nori and cyclopeez however he had never shown any interest in any of them. He is always picking at the rock and does not appear thin. I have spoken with others about this and they said it is typical of CBBs. He has only been in my tank for about a month and I have never seen him eat prepared food during feeding time. Frankly I was hoping he would start in on some aiptasia but gave up soon after I got him as he did not seem interested in the least.

sunfish11 · 11/09/2007, 02:20 PM

Mine killed a bunch of them as well. He just seems to enjoy it. He eats very well and I have had him over a year. He also likes to bite the eyes off astreas if they aren't fast enough. My conch also got nailed once (though didn't lose any apendages) and now watches out for the CBB.

For ducky, that isn't good. Your CBB will probably die if you don't get it on food prepared foods. It is typical, but typically most of the CBBs die

Lisa

ducky · 11/09/2007, 02:24 PM

any suggestions to get him to eat. I recently purchased some brine eggs. Do you think he would like live brine?

Bebo77 · 11/09/2007, 02:25 PM

copperbands love to feed off of LR.. no matter what you do.. they will pick at it...

sunfish11 · 11/09/2007, 02:36 PM

You are right they hunt the live rock all day long, but they are good hunters and will deplete their food down in a short amount of time and their wont be enough left to sustain them. They need to eat.

Ducky there have been lots of thread on getting CBBs to eat. If you search you will probably find 100 or more.

Lisa

josbur63 · 11/09/2007, 06:25 PM

Try bloodworms,mine loves those. Mine also will nip at snails,but I don't think he has ever killed one.Good luck.

ducky · 11/09/2007, 09:24 PM

Thanks for your help everyone. I did try to search but the RC search engine was not available. I will do a search when the servers are not so busy.

I will try bloodworms, I hope that it will eat, I would hate to watch it starve to death.

11/09/2007, 01:17 PM	#1
ducky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Copperbanded Butterfly eating Nassarius Snail Tubes I just noticed today at feeding time when all of my snails came out my CB systematically went around to each one and tried to eat their tubes. The snails seemed to recover and started moving around but I didn't see any tubes on them, I am not sure if they are gone or if they are retracted. But I watched my CB actually checking each of them out after he had already munched on them to see if their tubes were out again so that he could have another bite. Anyone else have this problem? Will the tubes grow back if he did indeed eat them?

11/09/2007, 01:39 PM	#2
HPD Turbo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: I really dont know Posts: 569	Are you feeding you CBB anything else?, you may stop this to happen by a correct feeding. Dont know about tubes growing back Good look. __________________ Alex S. Reefteria!!!! If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? Current Tank Info: 100gal, total system. Mixed reef. All DIY ex the tank.

11/09/2007, 01:39 PM	#3
HPD Turbo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: I really dont know Posts: 569	oh, and welcome to RC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Alex S. Reefteria!!!! If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? Current Tank Info: 100gal, total system. Mixed reef. All DIY ex the tank.

11/09/2007, 02:13 PM	#4
ducky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	I feed frozen mysis, brine, nori and cyclopeez however he had never shown any interest in any of them. He is always picking at the rock and does not appear thin. I have spoken with others about this and they said it is typical of CBBs. He has only been in my tank for about a month and I have never seen him eat prepared food during feeding time. Frankly I was hoping he would start in on some aiptasia but gave up soon after I got him as he did not seem interested in the least. Last edited by ducky; 11/09/2007 at 03:10 PM.

11/09/2007, 02:25 PM	#7
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	copperbands love to feed off of LR.. no matter what you do.. they will pick at it... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

11/09/2007, 02:20 PM	#5
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Mine killed a bunch of them as well. He just seems to enjoy it. He eats very well and I have had him over a year. He also likes to bite the eyes off astreas if they aren't fast enough. My conch also got nailed once (though didn't lose any apendages) and now watches out for the CBB. For ducky, that isn't good. Your CBB will probably die if you don't get it on food prepared foods. It is typical, but typically most of the CBBs die Lisa

11/09/2007, 02:24 PM	#6
ducky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	any suggestions to get him to eat. I recently purchased some brine eggs. Do you think he would like live brine?

11/09/2007, 02:36 PM	#8
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	You are right they hunt the live rock all day long, but they are good hunters and will deplete their food down in a short amount of time and their wont be enough left to sustain them. They need to eat. Ducky there have been lots of thread on getting CBBs to eat. If you search you will probably find 100 or more. Lisa

11/09/2007, 06:25 PM	#9
josbur63 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cincinnati,Ohio Posts: 135	Try bloodworms,mine loves those. Mine also will nip at snails,but I don't think he has ever killed one.Good luck.

11/09/2007, 09:24 PM	#10
ducky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Thanks for your help everyone. I did try to search but the RC search engine was not available. I will do a search when the servers are not so busy. I will try bloodworms, I hope that it will eat, I would hate to watch it starve to death.