Feeding copperband butterfly

annabelseymour · 11/15/2013, 04:50 PM

Have just got a copperband angel fish. I have about 130lbs of live rock which he spends all day investigating and having the odd nibble. He's eaten all the tube worms! Have also got algae sheets in the tank. Is this sufficient for him or does anyone have suggestions as to any additional food I can give him. Not sure what it's called in US but we have reef paste that you can stick on the glass - would a copperband eat this?

phillrodrigo · 11/15/2013, 05:44 PM

When I got mine paul b told me live black worms try those. Mine took mysis also.

annabelseymour · 11/15/2013, 05:56 PM

Thanks - sadly can't get them in the UK - not sure why as I know other people in UK have been trying to get hold of them. Also, so far mine hasn't shown interest in mysis shrimp - maybe If he gets hungry he'll start. Is your copperband still okay?

cloak · 11/15/2013, 06:46 PM

You might want to go to the supermarket and see if they have clams or mussels. See if they'll sell you about two dollars worth. Give one a good rinse and then crack it open. Drop it in the tank and see if the butterfly responds. If not, take it out after about an hour or so. It's definitely worth a try. GL.

Live brine might also work if they sell it where you are btw.

annabelseymour · 11/16/2013, 05:12 AM

Thanks! Will try both.

Coldjoker · 11/19/2013, 08:25 PM

I had good luck with Nutramar Ova in the beginning then mixed brine with ova, then brine with mysis, after stepping through these products after 3 months it was eating mysis and my homemade food.

Homemade food

Oyster
Shrimp
Garlic
Nori
Selcon

jorda9095 · 11/19/2013, 08:25 PM

make sure you are using PE mysis. regular mysis doesnt have enough nutrients

kylathwe · 11/19/2013, 09:14 PM

I've had mine for about 3 weeks and he only picks at the rocks all day long. He won't touch anything I put in the tank, I've tried mysis, brine, squid, nori, carnivore cuisine, flake, pellets, plankton, lrs reef frenzy and nada. Noone around here has black worms. I may try a clam or mussel though.

11/15/2013, 04:50 PM	#1
annabelseymour Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wales, U.K. Posts: 53	Feeding copperband butterfly Have just got a copperband angel fish. I have about 130lbs of live rock which he spends all day investigating and having the odd nibble. He's eaten all the tube worms! Have also got algae sheets in the tank. Is this sufficient for him or does anyone have suggestions as to any additional food I can give him. Not sure what it's called in US but we have reef paste that you can stick on the glass - would a copperband eat this?

11/15/2013, 05:44 PM	#2
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	When I got mine paul b told me live black worms try those. Mine took mysis also.

11/15/2013, 05:56 PM	#3
annabelseymour Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wales, U.K. Posts: 53	Thanks - sadly can't get them in the UK - not sure why as I know other people in UK have been trying to get hold of them. Also, so far mine hasn't shown interest in mysis shrimp - maybe If he gets hungry he'll start. Is your copperband still okay?

11/15/2013, 06:46 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	You might want to go to the supermarket and see if they have clams or mussels. See if they'll sell you about two dollars worth. Give one a good rinse and then crack it open. Drop it in the tank and see if the butterfly responds. If not, take it out after about an hour or so. It's definitely worth a try. GL. Live brine might also work if they sell it where you are btw.

11/16/2013, 05:12 AM	#5
annabelseymour Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wales, U.K. Posts: 53	Thanks! Will try both.

11/19/2013, 08:25 PM	#6
Coldjoker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ponchatoula, La Posts: 3	I had good luck with Nutramar Ova in the beginning then mixed brine with ova, then brine with mysis, after stepping through these products after 3 months it was eating mysis and my homemade food. Homemade food Oyster Shrimp Garlic Nori Selcon

11/19/2013, 08:25 PM	#7
jorda9095 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 325	make sure you are using PE mysis. regular mysis doesnt have enough nutrients

11/19/2013, 09:14 PM	#8
kylathwe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 244	I've had mine for about 3 weeks and he only picks at the rocks all day long. He won't touch anything I put in the tank, I've tried mysis, brine, squid, nori, carnivore cuisine, flake, pellets, plankton, lrs reef frenzy and nada. Noone around here has black worms. I may try a clam or mussel though.