Copperband Butterfly Reef safe?

Flybynight · 09/17/2008, 02:00 PM

I have seen them in reef tanks but IDK if they will munch on soft corals, xina, shrooms, SPS, and more!! SWF.com says they are reef safe but not coral safe. Some input from more experanced hobbiest is welcome please!!

pong · 09/17/2008, 02:04 PM

i dont get what they mean reef safe but not coral safe? arent corals part of the reef?

Flybynight · 09/17/2008, 02:06 PM

We are on the same boat!!

Hens4Fish · 09/17/2008, 02:06 PM

I have known them to pick at clam mantles, eat feather dusters. Not always, but they are a chance.

Flybynight · 09/17/2008, 02:08 PM

so they do not pick at corals?

rudyr03 · 09/17/2008, 02:18 PM

its a chance you u have to be wiling to take some say yes they pick at their corals and some can keep them with no problems or picking just have to be lucky

cdness · 09/17/2008, 02:28 PM

I like the look of the copperbanded butterfly but they are said to not be reef safe buy the LFS. it all comes down to acceptable risk. If you really want the fish just get it. If it nips corals decide if you would rather have that coral or the butterfly.

jon56048 · 09/17/2008, 02:34 PM

I would also like to now to please

secrest · 09/17/2008, 02:43 PM

It's hit or miss. My first would nip at clam mantles, but the next one I got has been perfect.

Flybynight · 09/17/2008, 05:58 PM

I have invested WAY to much money for anything to make a meal out of them. I have 2 reason for getting him. 1st, My wife likes them. 2nd I have aptaisa and I just got lots of peppermint shrimp but IDK if they will do the job. I am hoping the butterfly will help me with this problem. So, I guess I am ISO of a copper butterfly that someone has had some good luck with. I have LOTS of food for him =-)

Gary Majchrzak · 09/17/2008, 06:06 PM

Chelmon rostratus is one of the most reef compatible Butterflyfishes. Tip: use it's scientific name in your searches. Need help searching RC? Here's some info on how to go about it:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=380314

HappySkittles · 09/17/2008, 08:41 PM

i read they are hard to take care of
can be finicky eaters D: and maybe thats why they will munch on corals

nikon187 · 09/17/2008, 10:48 PM

all copperbands i've seen(minus 1 cuz my buddy has one in his SPS tank but only SPS) will pick at corals. Usually LPS, feather dusters, clams. More than likely it depends on the individual fish whether he will find a taste for coral. Yes they are hard to get eating prepared foods. Make sure you get them to feed before you buy to make sure

Volkman · 09/18/2008, 02:50 PM

I just got one a few weeks ago, took out all my feather dusters (that's good in this case) eats frozen brine shrimp and cyclopeze, and doesn't touch my Zoa's or anything else! Maybe just lucked out? Cool fish to watch though, think they watch us too, those eyes are neat!

sunfish11 · 09/18/2008, 04:15 PM

Here is something that has been barely mentioned in this thread so far. These are hard to keep fish. For many people who buy one thier next post is in the Reef Fish or Disease forum trying to get help. That being said, I have had mine for two years. It is the perfect copperband, eats aiptasia and doesn't munch on my corals or clams. I got very lucky. If you get one make sure that it eats BEFORE you bring it home. Make sure it isn't skinny and looks absolutely healthy. Make sure it gets enough food to eat every day and as much variety as you can get it to eat. I believe that having large numbers of copopods and other reef critters is essential in keeping a CBB. They hunt the rock all day so they will do best in a larger tank. Even after the aiptasia is gone add some occasionally for the CBB to eat.

Lisa

Jordan_Oreo · 09/18/2008, 05:00 PM

I have a copper band and he is a great fihs dosent bother corals just a chill fish

gulfstream · 09/18/2008, 06:40 PM

I guess people have missed the point of how difficult or even impossible this fish is to keep..Some people get them to rid of their aptasia,only to loose them to starvation after the aptasia is gone.
As far as compatability,it will get alone with other fish,and will nip at feather dusters and certain types of softies,but as far as survival it will die due to starvation.
At times and I mean times,he will eat rottifers and brine shrimp,
but those are counted times this specimen will adopt and adapt
to those foods.
from experience from this fish,I will rather leave it alone and leave it in the ocean where it belongs,

sunfish11 · 09/18/2008, 09:48 PM

After I posted I realized that my CBB isn't perfect after all. I forgot he likes to bite the eye stalks off of snails. I don't even bother with snails anymore. Luckily I don't need them. I have only one snail in my 210 gallon and it is a turbo that has been with me nearly 4 years and is approaching baseball size. He is too big for the CBB to kill.

Lisa

09/17/2008, 02:00 PM	#1
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	Copperband Butterfly Reef safe? I have seen them in reef tanks but IDK if they will munch on soft corals, xina, shrooms, SPS, and more!! SWF.com says they are reef safe but not coral safe. Some input from more experanced hobbiest is welcome please!! __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

09/17/2008, 02:06 PM	#3
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	We are on the same boat!! __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

09/17/2008, 02:08 PM	#5
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	so they do not pick at corals? __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

09/17/2008, 02:28 PM	#7
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	I like the look of the copperbanded butterfly but they are said to not be reef safe buy the LFS. it all comes down to acceptable risk. If you really want the fish just get it. If it nips corals decide if you would rather have that coral or the butterfly. __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

09/17/2008, 05:58 PM	#10
Flybynight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beebe Arkansas Posts: 421	I have invested WAY to much money for anything to make a meal out of them. I have 2 reason for getting him. 1st, My wife likes them. 2nd I have aptaisa and I just got lots of peppermint shrimp but IDK if they will do the job. I am hoping the butterfly will help me with this problem. So, I guess I am ISO of a copper butterfly that someone has had some good luck with. I have LOTS of food for him =-) __________________ Live while you can or one day you will look back and regret it.

09/17/2008, 02:04 PM	#2
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	i dont get what they mean reef safe but not coral safe? arent corals part of the reef?

09/17/2008, 02:06 PM	#4
Hens4Fish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 1,297	I have known them to pick at clam mantles, eat feather dusters. Not always, but they are a chance.

09/17/2008, 02:18 PM	#6
rudyr03 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: miami Posts: 485	its a chance you u have to be wiling to take some say yes they pick at their corals and some can keep them with no problems or picking just have to be lucky

09/17/2008, 02:34 PM	#8
jon56048 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 256	I would also like to now to please

09/17/2008, 02:43 PM	#9
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	It's hit or miss. My first would nip at clam mantles, but the next one I got has been perfect.

09/17/2008, 06:06 PM	#11
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Chelmon rostratus is one of the most reef compatible Butterflyfishes. Tip: use it's scientific name in your searches. Need help searching RC? Here's some info on how to go about it: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=380314 __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

09/17/2008, 08:41 PM	#12
HappySkittles Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 401	i read they are hard to take care of can be finicky eaters D: and maybe thats why they will munch on corals __________________ RESEARCH! <º)))>< Very important Sexy Blog? Click the red house! Current Tank Info: 3 gallon pico-zoas, gorgonian, mushrooms, nass snails and sexy shrimp

09/17/2008, 10:48 PM	#13
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	all copperbands i've seen(minus 1 cuz my buddy has one in his SPS tank but only SPS) will pick at corals. Usually LPS, feather dusters, clams. More than likely it depends on the individual fish whether he will find a taste for coral. Yes they are hard to get eating prepared foods. Make sure you get them to feed before you buy to make sure __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

09/18/2008, 02:50 PM	#14
Volkman Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Barrington, IL Posts: 418	I just got one a few weeks ago, took out all my feather dusters (that's good in this case) eats frozen brine shrimp and cyclopeze, and doesn't touch my Zoa's or anything else! Maybe just lucked out? Cool fish to watch though, think they watch us too, those eyes are neat!

09/18/2008, 04:15 PM	#15
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	Here is something that has been barely mentioned in this thread so far. These are hard to keep fish. For many people who buy one thier next post is in the Reef Fish or Disease forum trying to get help. That being said, I have had mine for two years. It is the perfect copperband, eats aiptasia and doesn't munch on my corals or clams. I got very lucky. If you get one make sure that it eats BEFORE you bring it home. Make sure it isn't skinny and looks absolutely healthy. Make sure it gets enough food to eat every day and as much variety as you can get it to eat. I believe that having large numbers of copopods and other reef critters is essential in keeping a CBB. They hunt the rock all day so they will do best in a larger tank. Even after the aiptasia is gone add some occasionally for the CBB to eat. Lisa

09/18/2008, 05:00 PM	#16
Jordan_Oreo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 228	I have a copper band and he is a great fihs dosent bother corals just a chill fish __________________ Money often costs too much.

09/18/2008, 06:40 PM	#17
gulfstream Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa,Ontario.Canada Posts: 110	I guess people have missed the point of how difficult or even impossible this fish is to keep..Some people get them to rid of their aptasia,only to loose them to starvation after the aptasia is gone. As far as compatability,it will get alone with other fish,and will nip at feather dusters and certain types of softies,but as far as survival it will die due to starvation. At times and I mean times,he will eat rottifers and brine shrimp, but those are counted times this specimen will adopt and adapt to those foods. from experience from this fish,I will rather leave it alone and leave it in the ocean where it belongs,

09/18/2008, 09:48 PM	#18
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	After I posted I realized that my CBB isn't perfect after all. I forgot he likes to bite the eye stalks off of snails. I don't even bother with snails anymore. Luckily I don't need them. I have only one snail in my 210 gallon and it is a turbo that has been with me nearly 4 years and is approaching baseball size. He is too big for the CBB to kill. Lisa