How long has it taken you to get your CopperBand Butterfly to eat?

agoutihead · 03/01/2008, 04:30 PM

We all know these are finicky fish. But how long did it take you to get your's to eat?

And what did you use to try and get it to eat?

I've got Rod's Reef Food right now and I'm not sure he ate any of it. But I have seen him pecking at the rocks already and I'm assuming he's just eating all of my feather dusters right now.

He looks very healthy and has a nice stomach right now. (I just put him in the tank about a half hour ago.)

BigBadBlenny · 03/01/2008, 04:33 PM

I had one that would only eat mussels. best thing to do when buying one of these is to get the lfs to feed it while you are there. they have been known to die in a tank without eating anything.

ricks · 03/01/2008, 04:36 PM

Did you see him eat before you purchased him?? what other fish is he with?? Most times they will never eat, even if they start, long term survival is almost impossible.

And I seriously doubt you will be successful with a 40 gallon tank....

Good Luck

jimroth · 03/01/2008, 04:44 PM

Oh please, they are one of the hardier butterflies.
IME, the first thing they ate in my tank were all the little feather dusters. Then moved on to the aiptasia and lasted several years eating frozen PE Mysis and the odd aiptasia.
Many people have had luck with a freshly opened clam from the fish market.

agoutihead · 03/01/2008, 04:45 PM

Mussels are the only thing that isn't in Rod's Reef. Scallops and clams are though.

If I can get him to start eating, he will be fine in the 40. There is ample rock work for him to swim around and nothing that will ever bother him.

I asked him to put food in the tank which he did, and he wasn't too interested in the mysis he put in there. But the store just got him a day or so ago. So he hasn't really had time to settle in.

He is now housed with a flame angel, purple firefish and a mandarine goby.

jetta · 03/01/2008, 04:53 PM

It took mine about an hour to eat after I acclimated him. He was eating at the lfs though.

Do a search in the fish forum for this butterfly. There is a very good thread in there on this fish.

ricks · 03/01/2008, 04:57 PM

"They are one of the hardiest butterflies"

"Mine last several years"

Lucky you... I wonder what the life expectance is in the wild 10-15 years...

We should take a poll on how many people, keep these fish alive over a period of time..

I think your confusing hardy with reef safe???

Happy reefing

fatboyjoe · 03/01/2008, 05:19 PM

I bought a large one for aptasia control about 3 months ago. It didn't eat at the store but I bought him anyway. I fed him frozen mysis shrimp soaked in garlic for about 2 weeks, and now just plain mysis. he started slow, eating just a few pieces, and now he's eating like a pig. he also took care of my aptasia problem. thank God.

JKDMan · 03/01/2008, 05:25 PM

got mine to eat in the store b4 i brought it home , and it ate mysis shrimps for me and formula 2 flakes

DarthBaiter · 03/01/2008, 05:56 PM

Mine eats nothing but Mysis, and freeze dried blood warms. The first one I had would not eat anything and dies within a week. The second one I got from Liveaquaria was from Australia and it ate he day I got it. Frozen mysis.

03/01/2008, 04:30 PM	#1
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	How long has it taken you to get your CopperBand Butterfly to eat? We all know these are finicky fish. But how long did it take you to get your's to eat? And what did you use to try and get it to eat? I've got Rod's Reef Food right now and I'm not sure he ate any of it. But I have seen him pecking at the rocks already and I'm assuming he's just eating all of my feather dusters right now. He looks very healthy and has a nice stomach right now. (I just put him in the tank about a half hour ago.) __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

03/01/2008, 04:44 PM	#4
jimroth Moving Money Join Date: May 2001 Location: Rockaway, NJ Posts: 1,764	Oh please, they are one of the hardier butterflies. IME, the first thing they ate in my tank were all the little feather dusters. Then moved on to the aiptasia and lasted several years eating frozen PE Mysis and the odd aiptasia. Many people have had luck with a freshly opened clam from the fish market. __________________ Jim Roth --------------- Current Tank Info: 250G custom SPS System w/3X Radions

03/01/2008, 04:45 PM	#5
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Mussels are the only thing that isn't in Rod's Reef. Scallops and clams are though. If I can get him to start eating, he will be fine in the 40. There is ample rock work for him to swim around and nothing that will ever bother him. I asked him to put food in the tank which he did, and he wasn't too interested in the mysis he put in there. But the store just got him a day or so ago. So he hasn't really had time to settle in. He is now housed with a flame angel, purple firefish and a mandarine goby. __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

03/01/2008, 05:19 PM	#8
fatboyjoe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: philadelphia Posts: 122	I bought a large one for aptasia control about 3 months ago. It didn't eat at the store but I bought him anyway. I fed him frozen mysis shrimp soaked in garlic for about 2 weeks, and now just plain mysis. he started slow, eating just a few pieces, and now he's eating like a pig. he also took care of my aptasia problem. thank God. __________________ joe Current Tank Info: 90 gal reef

03/01/2008, 05:56 PM	#10
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	Mine eats nothing but Mysis, and freeze dried blood warms. The first one I had would not eat anything and dies within a week. The second one I got from Liveaquaria was from Australia and it ate he day I got it. Frozen mysis. __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

03/01/2008, 04:33 PM	#2
BigBadBlenny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Thunder Bay On Canada Posts: 598	I had one that would only eat mussels. best thing to do when buying one of these is to get the lfs to feed it while you are there. they have been known to die in a tank without eating anything.

03/01/2008, 04:36 PM	#3
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Did you see him eat before you purchased him?? what other fish is he with?? Most times they will never eat, even if they start, long term survival is almost impossible. And I seriously doubt you will be successful with a 40 gallon tank.... Good Luck

03/01/2008, 04:53 PM	#6
jetta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cowlesville, NY Posts: 119	It took mine about an hour to eat after I acclimated him. He was eating at the lfs though. Do a search in the fish forum for this butterfly. There is a very good thread in there on this fish.

03/01/2008, 04:57 PM	#7
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	"They are one of the hardiest butterflies" "Mine last several years" Lucky you... I wonder what the life expectance is in the wild 10-15 years... We should take a poll on how many people, keep these fish alive over a period of time.. I think your confusing hardy with reef safe??? Happy reefing

03/01/2008, 05:25 PM	#9
JKDMan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 187	got mine to eat in the store b4 i brought it home , and it ate mysis shrimps for me and formula 2 flakes