Copper band butterfly

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

Hi everyone. Im planning to get a copper band butterfly to control the aiptaisa outbreak. I did lots of research but there are always pros and cons about them. Anyone has kept one can give me an advice about how to feed them ot how to get them to eat. And what about the aiptaisa control. Thanks

leroytigerjohnson · Nov 12, 2015

Where ever you get it from, please have them feed it in front of you before buying. Also make sure to have the same food that it will eat for them. Most like mysis shrimp in my experience.

HiddenUser · Nov 12, 2015

I would bank on it eating Aiptasia...mine wouldn't touch the stuff, but he did clear out all the tube worms. I got mine to eat by offering clams and then tucking PE Mysis into rock crevices.

Eckolancer · Nov 12, 2015

Mine lived for about 6 years. He would always eat mysis and brine shrimps. But one day he just refused to eat and starved to death

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

Thanks for quick reply. Im so tempting for them and my tank is full of aiptaisa. I know that is a hist or miss but i like it so much. And another thing is my tank only 65gal semi cube. Will it be ok for a small one in couple years

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

Eckolancer said:
Mine lived for about 6 years. He would always eat mysis and brine shrimps. But one day he just refused to eat and starved to death

Sorry to hear that. Thats suck but he might get old and the life span in captivity is not very long for saltwater fish i believe

Eckolancer · Nov 12, 2015

65 is kinda small mine seem to like a lot of room to swim and I would catch him swimming into my power heads like he was working out on the treadmill. But they also need to eat a few times a day so multiple feedings are better

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

I have to think about that more before i can get it

Breakthecycle2 · Nov 12, 2015

If thats the only reason you want one, I would stay away. There are other alternatives to getting rid of aptasia.

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

Breakthecycle2 said:
If thats the only reason you want one, I would stay away. There are other alternatives to getting rid of aptasia.

What do u suggest for aiptaisa control???im about to try berghia nudibranch but too expensive. And i have lots of big ones in my tank

TeachinReefin · Nov 12, 2015

I have had both good luck and bad luck with them eating aptasia. Some do and some don't. I think it might have to do with where they're from and whether that's a natural food source for them. I have had good luck getting them to eat other foods though.

Breakthecycle2 · Nov 12, 2015

Maroon clown said:
What do u suggest for aiptaisa control???im about to try berghia nudibranch but too expensive. And i have lots of big ones in my tank

Why not Aiptaisa X?

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

I tried several time but what i got is tons of baby aiptasia in the next 3 days. Lol

Jimbo · Nov 12, 2015

Try some Peppermint shrimp. I know some people claim they cause problems for them but that hasn't been my experience, other than them stealing food out of LPS but any shrimp is going to do that . Give them a shot.

Maroon clown · Nov 12, 2015

Jimbo said:
Try some Peppermint shrimp. I know some people claim they cause problems for them but that hasn't been my experience, other than them stealing food out of LPS but any shrimp is going to do that . Give them a shot.

I did try several time but never work gor me. They just disappear in my tank for no reason eventhough my tank has only a pair of maroon clown and a sixline wrass

Jimbo · Nov 12, 2015

Wouldn't be surprised if your Six line was killing them .They can be aggressive little buggers

mfinn · Nov 13, 2015

I would get a half dozen peppermint shrimp, or a matted file fish for that small of a tank. CBB's will get a little big for that sized tank. Matted file fish tend to stay smaller.