Copper Banded Butterfly Questions

makolonj · 05/19/2007, 05:19 PM

So I just bought a new Copper Banded Butterfly yesterday for my 55g to help with my Aptasia problem, plus I like the way the fish looks. I was warned that these fish can be picky eaters, and sure enough, mine seems to fit that description. I tried Mysis Shrimp yesterday but it didnâ€™t seem interested (could be the fact itâ€™s in a new tank so I will try again). Just put some flakes in and saw it eat a few pieces. It has only eaten one of the Aptasia and occasionally picks at things on my rock. My question is, what other types of food have you had success with feeding this fish? Should I clip some nori seaweed, much like you would with a Tang? When should I begin to worry about starvation, what are the signs?

P.S. My tank parameters all check out. Other fish include Mandarin Gobie, Lawnmower Blenny, and a Fire Fish and a few Mushrooms.

tm49er · 05/19/2007, 05:38 PM

i have had one in my 90 gallon for about 1 year. he got rid of all my aptasia in a matter of days.

he took a few days to start eating. He eats now, mainly brine shrimp, mysis and krill. he loves these things.

Will not eat flake food or any other frozen food.

onnenmd · 05/20/2007, 12:29 AM

Try putting garlic extreme with the mysis shrimp. That makes my fish go wild!! to eat that is...

michaeldaly · 05/20/2007, 04:37 AM

The CBB is one of the most difficult fish to get feeding in captivity and most of them don't last very long.

You can forget about nori, CBB's are carviverous.
Flakes are also pretty much out.

Mine likes to eat mysis, brine, bloodworms, mussle, squid and clam.

One why that might help in getting him to feed is to squash some mysis or other food into a shell and put the shell somewhere close to the bottom of the tank. CBB's like to peck at things with their long noses.

If you have any tubeworms or featherdusters be ready to see them all eaten up.

Paul B · 05/20/2007, 05:02 AM

Copperbands were designed to eat worms and thats what you should feed it. Live blackworms. They will also eat mysis and clams but they love live worms. You can feed frozen bloodworms but I doubt they have much nutrition, they are not really worms but insect larvae.
Paul

Shagsbeard · 05/20/2007, 06:47 AM

Try buying some fresh (live) clams at the supermarket.... shell them, freeze the meat, and then either grate the meat with a cheese grater, or toss it in a blender and chop it up.

tm49er · 05/20/2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by michaeldaly

If you have any tubeworms or featherdusters be ready to see them all eaten up.

I agree. i have no feather dusters left. but it's worth it since i have no aptasia either. And he's a real cool fish.

05/19/2007, 05:19 PM	#1
makolonj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 194	Copper Banded Butterfly Questions So I just bought a new Copper Banded Butterfly yesterday for my 55g to help with my Aptasia problem, plus I like the way the fish looks. I was warned that these fish can be picky eaters, and sure enough, mine seems to fit that description. I tried Mysis Shrimp yesterday but it didnâ€™t seem interested (could be the fact itâ€™s in a new tank so I will try again). Just put some flakes in and saw it eat a few pieces. It has only eaten one of the Aptasia and occasionally picks at things on my rock. My question is, what other types of food have you had success with feeding this fish? Should I clip some nori seaweed, much like you would with a Tang? When should I begin to worry about starvation, what are the signs? P.S. My tank parameters all check out. Other fish include Mandarin Gobie, Lawnmower Blenny, and a Fire Fish and a few Mushrooms.

05/20/2007, 05:02 AM	#5
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Copperbands were designed to eat worms and thats what you should feed it. Live blackworms. They will also eat mysis and clams but they love live worms. You can feed frozen bloodworms but I doubt they have much nutrition, they are not really worms but insect larvae. Paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

05/19/2007, 05:38 PM	#2
tm49er Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 253	i have had one in my 90 gallon for about 1 year. he got rid of all my aptasia in a matter of days. he took a few days to start eating. He eats now, mainly brine shrimp, mysis and krill. he loves these things. Will not eat flake food or any other frozen food.

05/20/2007, 12:29 AM	#3
onnenmd Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MN Posts: 60	Try putting garlic extreme with the mysis shrimp. That makes my fish go wild!! to eat that is...

05/20/2007, 04:37 AM	#4
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	The CBB is one of the most difficult fish to get feeding in captivity and most of them don't last very long. You can forget about nori, CBB's are carviverous. Flakes are also pretty much out. Mine likes to eat mysis, brine, bloodworms, mussle, squid and clam. One why that might help in getting him to feed is to squash some mysis or other food into a shell and put the shell somewhere close to the bottom of the tank. CBB's like to peck at things with their long noses. If you have any tubeworms or featherdusters be ready to see them all eaten up.

05/20/2007, 06:47 AM	#6
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Try buying some fresh (live) clams at the supermarket.... shell them, freeze the meat, and then either grate the meat with a cheese grater, or toss it in a blender and chop it up.