CBB not eating anymore

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Earl Karl

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So I don't know why, but the copperband butterfly seems to be not eating anymore for a while now. Water parameters are good. The CBB used to LOVE bloodworms and mysis, I even rip off pieces of shrimp that I feed my eel and he would eat that. But now he doesn't see to show interest anymore. He is still fat and happy however, and picks off the fan worms that are in my tank. He occasionally hunts for leftover blackworms. I tried putting food all over the rocks as he likes to pick off the rocks, but still no interest. I have used mussel in a shell, but he never showed interest even when he was eating well, I will try again but perhaps CBBs like some other clam? I am kind of concerned right now. Any suggestions on what I can entice the fish with?
I currently feed the tank mysis, bloodworms, spirulina brine, mussel in a shell, Rod's, blackworms, NLS pellets, and cobalt ultra color flakes. All soaked with selcon and garlic guard.
 
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Chewy.com
Earl Karl said:
So I don't know why, but the copperband butterfly seems to be not eating anymore for a while now. Water parameters are good. The CBB used to LOVE bloodworms and mysis, I even rip off pieces of shrimp that I feed my eel and he would eat that. But now he doesn't see to show interest anymore. He is still fat and happy however, and picks off the fan worms that are in my tank. He occasionally hunts for leftover blackworms. I tried putting food all over the rocks as he likes to pick off the rocks, but still no interest. I have used mussel in a shell, but he never showed interest even when he was eating well, I will try again but perhaps CBBs like some other clam? I am kind of concerned right now. Any suggestions on what I can entice the fish with?
I currently feed the tank mysis, bloodworms, spirulina brine, mussel in a shell, Rod's, blackworms, NLS pellets, and cobalt ultra color flakes. All soaked with selcon and garlic guard.
Click to expand...

How long have you had this fish?

Did you QT the fish?

Any white stringy poop?

Any other signs of disease?
 
His dietary needs might be being met by picking at copepods off LR. CBB do prefer live-food.

He may be bored with the dead fish food you offer and wants to hunt for live food as among the LR
 
Deltec
I had this fish for 4 months now. I always QT my fish. Truth be told, I have never seen this fish poop, in fact I have never seen any of my CBBs poop. But I do not suspect internal parasites due to the amount of metroplex mixed foods he ate for the month he was in QT and he is pretty fat and happy. It's been almost 2 weeks without seeing him eat food except fanworms and occasionally blackworms, yet he hasn't changed in terms of getting skinnier. Besides having ick that I eradicated with copper, no other disease popped up. I don't think I have copepods in my tanks. Especially when his tank mates pretty much ate them all to the point where I had to move my mandarin. I don't even have that many fan worms to begin with, I'm surprised he is not getting skinny. However, I am wondering what kind of live foods? I am willing to try anything since this is my favorite fish. I just tried mussel in a half shell, still no interest. Also if it helps, he is in a zoo med low boy tank (48*18*12) and he is about 4 inches.
EDIT: I think I just saw him pick at some spirulina brine, but hard to see when he is in the back of the tank.
 
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Nutramar Foods
Any live foods I can entice it with?

Edit: As surprised as I am, I just saw my CBB ate a big butt amphipod. So I guess that's where he's been getting his nutrition. Still, any other live foods you guys can recommend? I know I'm ordering some amphipods.
 
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Deltec
They also love tiny live shrimp, white and or black worms, clams that are frozen and then shaved into thin pieces. Setting up a small separate tank to breed aiptasia on rocks so you can add to the DT is surely the sign of a very dedicated hobbyist.
 
Tidal Gardens
Help me understand the fuss about a CBB that is picking at LR....yet showing zero signs of illness or thinness....

If it were a $2000 Jewel Tang, ok....

But for a CBB.....I'd follow Paul McCartney's song: Let It Be
 
skimjim said:
Help me understand the fuss about a CBB that is picking at LR, showing zero signs of illness or thinness....

Follow Paul Mccartney's song: Let It Be
Click to expand...

No fuss; just offering alternatives for a once eating fish that has gone off prepared foods. Which is unusual IME. Even pod eating dragonets get excited by and will readily accept live blackworms, roe, etc. once they have become accustomed to getting these as a “treat”. Whenever an animal refuses treats for an extended period of time, it’s worth looking into to determine the reason why.
 
I have aiptasia already lol, never interested.

It is an Australian CBB, so it is kinda pricey, especially when I'm not the richest guy. Besides my eels, this is my one of most expensive fish. So yeah, it would be a big loss if it starved, but for now I think I shouldn't make a big fuss about it.

I just find it odd that it is not eating prepared foods anymore.
 
Nutramar Foods
Maybe another fish is bullying your CBB and just being submissive during feed time (?)

Ime....I had a CBB fir 2yrs that would run the other way when food hit the tank bc tangs would go into a feeding frenzy.

My CBB was just fine eating Aiptasia (tiny baby ones you could barely see)....and LR-bugs for over 2yrs.

Yes, change in eating patterns should raise awareness....but me personally if I saw it picking at LR, I wouldn't lose 1min of sleep over it.....bc I watched fir 2yrs a CBB go hide in the corner during the tang feeding frenzy

I guess I'm a reefer who believes: the more you intervene, the more sideways things become
 
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eatbreakfast said:
Tr shucking a live clam or oyster to feed. It may elicit more of a response than a previously frozen one.
Click to expand...

My only concern with this is pathogens (e.g. encysted tomonts on the shells.) Freezing for 24 hrs should neutralize this threat.
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
It just dawned on me that my CBB that I have now....when I first got him was severely shy. Im mean severely.

When tangs went into their feedingfest he was like "I'm outta here".

By 2nd week i was concerned.

I went to my local grocer and at the seafood counter got fresh clams, they were gray shelled, cant remember the name.

I cracked open two of those a left all the juice in there and gently placed the clams on the bottom, persevering as much meat and juicy goo as possible

Within 5mins he was picking at the fresh clams....that were dead....but fresh and chilled.

After a week doing that he became an eating machine...not intimidated by 6in tangs I have.

In fact, he now out-maunvers the tangs tactically to get at food.

Something about the fresh chilled clams got him out of his intimidated state.

Now I don't feed clams and he's first in line when food hits the tank with a fork-n-knife and a bib
 
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He is not interested in cracked open mussels or oyster, but I will try littleneck clams. I don't know if the clam species make a big difference, but I will try anyways. If it doesn't work, then it becomes grazing meal for the cleaner wrasse. Unless I am cracking the mussels the wrong way (I split them wide open), then I don't think the littleneck clams would make a difference. In fact, I'm going to try to split them into a little crack, see if it is more appealing.

I don't think I have aggressive tankmates that are scaring him, my most aggressive is my flame angel, who isn't that aggressive at all. In fact the CBB is the biggest fish in there besides my 30 inch snowflake eel. He doesn't even run away from the food, the food just floats in front of him and he just ignores it.

For now, I'm just ordering amphipods, as it seems to like them. But I only saw it pick 1-2 of them the whole day I was watching (I have no life).

I thought Australian CBBs were supposed to be more inclined to prepared foods, guess I was unlucky. At least he's eating whatever are in the rocks.
 
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