Copperband Advice

[jake296]

Hi all,

So I picked up my first Copperband a couple of weeks ago and after a few days with no feeding success, it’s going crazy for bloodworms. I also tried half clams and it didn’t show any interest but it’s now also taking muscles which is great!

I’m a bit paranoid as to how much I should be feeding it after reading so much about them so I have a couple of questions from people who’ve managed to keep them successfully.

1) Are muscles and bloodworms enough to sustain the fish until I can get it onto a more varied diet in the medium term? I feel like I’m in a race against time currently.

2) In the video attached, do you think it’s on the slim side and I need to boost the feeding?

If the video doesn’t work, I’ll attach a few pics.

TIA, just trying to gauge where it’s at and I’m really hopeful about keeping this fish successfully.

 

[jake296]

Hi all,

So I picked up my first Copperband a couple of weeks ago and after a few days with no feeding success, it’s going crazy for bloodworms. I also tried half clams and it didn’t show any interest but it’s now also taking muscles which is great!

I’m a bit paranoid as to how much I should be feeding it after reading so much about them so I have a couple of questions from people who’ve managed to keep them successfully.

1) Are muscles and bloodworms enough to sustain the fish until I can get it onto a more varied diet in the medium term? I feel like I’m in a race against time currently.

2) In the video attached, do you think it’s on the slim side and I need to boost the feeding?

If the video doesn’t work, I’ll attach a few pics.

TIA, just trying to gauge where it’s at and I’m really hopeful about keeping this fish successfully.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I'd take it as a win that it's eating anything!
They can be tricky devils!
I personally avoid bloodworms in fresh & marine because I have read a lot of posts that they are pathogen heavy.
This may or may not be true so don't quote me on that.
Black worms are great IF you can get hold of a regular source.
I didn't feed mussels or clam as I have clams & my CBB did peck at mine a few times.
I imagine mussels would do the heavy lifting as far as nutrition for yours & supplement with some BW or easyreefs masstick.
They will also peck around for pods all-day.
He doesn't look overly thin but will fatten up with regular feeding.
They eat like hogs & poop a lot.
Pic of mine that I've had for 6 months, he's a chunky boy!

 

[jake296]

I'd take it as a win that it's eating anything!
They can be tricky devils!
I personally avoid bloodworms in fresh & marine because I have read a lot of posts that they are pathogen heavy.
This may or may not be true so don't quote me on that.
Black worms are great IF you can get hold of a regular source.
I didn't feed mussels or clam as I have clams & my CBB did peck at mine a few times.
I imagine mussels would do the heavy lifting as far as nutrition for yours & supplement with some BW or easyreefs masstick.
They will also peck around for pods all-day.
He doesn't look overly thin but will fatten up with regular feeding.
They eat like hogs & poop a lot.
Pic of mine that I've had for 6 months, he's a chunky boy!

Thanks for the reply!

Sorry, I did mean blackworms.. my bad, it loves them. But thanks for the help, I was hoping someone would say that with the muscles doing the bulk as they’re easy for me to source and drop in the tank. I’ve also read in a few places that people have blended and frozen clams/muscles/ fish eggs etc and then feed that too.

No doubt yours is in good condition!

 

[Oldreefer44]

Looks healthy to me. Mine eats frozen mysis and any LRS reef foods, Rods etc.

 

[jtf74]

Hi all,

So I picked up my first Copperband a couple of weeks ago and after a few days with no feeding success, it’s going crazy for bloodworms. I also tried half clams and it didn’t show any interest but it’s now also taking muscles which is great!

I’m a bit paranoid as to how much I should be feeding it after reading so much about them so I have a couple of questions from people who’ve managed to keep them successfully.

1) Are muscles and bloodworms enough to sustain the fish until I can get it onto a more varied diet in the medium term? I feel like I’m in a race against time currently.

2) In the video attached, do you think it’s on the slim side and I need to boost the feeding?

If the video doesn’t work, I’ll attach a few pics.

TIA, just trying to gauge where it’s at and I’m really hopeful about keeping this fish successfully.

This concaveness here tells me its underweight. If its eating blackworms well and mussels you should be ok probably. Feed it that until it bulks up and keep trying other stuff mixed in with worms. Mine eats any seafood now and was more picky the first few months. They do eat a lot.