copper banded won't eat

kolosy · 05/09/2010, 01:05 PM

i've got a copper banded butterfly that hasn't eaten since i got it (about 5 days ago). he's not touching the aptaisa that's in the tank, he's not touching the frozen mysis, and i've only seen him nip once at the live blackworms i got just for him.

i'm afraid if he keeps this up, he won't be around for long. he's not being harassed, and seems otherwise healthy.

any ideas?

shifty51008 · 05/09/2010, 03:20 PM

copperbands are very picky eaters and are why they are a difficult fish to keep. but you can try cyclopeeze, bbs, soak foods in garlic ect. until he gets eating, but again those are only a chance. good luck

Zappo · 05/09/2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

copperbands are very picky eaters and are why they are a difficult fish to keep. but you can try cyclopeeze, bbs, soak foods in garlic ect. until he gets eating, but again those are only a chance. good luck

I tried a combination of those when my 6-line wouldn't eat at first. Soaked mysis shrimp in garlic and added a pinch of cyclopeeze. That got him eating on the first try.

kolosy · 05/09/2010, 04:03 PM

soak in garlic - how do you do that? just chop up some garlic and throw it in the cup with water?

Zappo · 05/09/2010, 04:08 PM

You can buy garlic extract at the fish store. Seachem has a brand called garlic guard that you can probably get in a huge bottle for about $15 at your LFS. Kent Marine has one or two garlic products too, if that's what your local stores carry.

Crustman · 05/09/2010, 07:23 PM

There is a whole forum here in Reef fishes on CBB's. Mine likes PE Mysis and also ate the Marine Cuisine for carnivores. Hope yours makes it.

padi200 · 05/09/2010, 08:11 PM

Maybe try some live food, like live pods? Also, might consider a food that has lots of different ingredients like Rods food?
The main thing is try lots of things since there is no way to know what yours might like.

sedor · 05/09/2010, 08:14 PM

Just hang in there, when I first got my CBB he cruised the rocks and didn't seem to be eating anything for about 2 weeks. Then aiptasia started disappearing and now about 6 months later he chows down on mysis every night with all the other fish.

05/09/2010, 01:05 PM	#1
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	copper banded won't eat i've got a copper banded butterfly that hasn't eaten since i got it (about 5 days ago). he's not touching the aptaisa that's in the tank, he's not touching the frozen mysis, and i've only seen him nip once at the live blackworms i got just for him. i'm afraid if he keeps this up, he won't be around for long. he's not being harassed, and seems otherwise healthy. any ideas? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

05/09/2010, 04:03 PM	#4
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	soak in garlic - how do you do that? just chop up some garlic and throw it in the cup with water? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

05/09/2010, 07:23 PM	#6
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	There is a whole forum here in Reef fishes on CBB's. Mine likes PE Mysis and also ate the Marine Cuisine for carnivores. Hope yours makes it. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

05/09/2010, 08:14 PM	#8
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Just hang in there, when I first got my CBB he cruised the rocks and didn't seem to be eating anything for about 2 weeks. Then aiptasia started disappearing and now about 6 months later he chows down on mysis every night with all the other fish. __________________ Ryan

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05/09/2010, 03:20 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	copperbands are very picky eaters and are why they are a difficult fish to keep. but you can try cyclopeeze, bbs, soak foods in garlic ect. until he gets eating, but again those are only a chance. good luck

05/09/2010, 04:08 PM	#5
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	You can buy garlic extract at the fish store. Seachem has a brand called garlic guard that you can probably get in a huge bottle for about $15 at your LFS. Kent Marine has one or two garlic products too, if that's what your local stores carry.

05/09/2010, 08:11 PM	#7
padi200 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: LA, CA Posts: 529	Maybe try some live food, like live pods? Also, might consider a food that has lots of different ingredients like Rods food? The main thing is try lots of things since there is no way to know what yours might like.