Copperband Butterfly and Aptasia Control

[ReeferMadness80G]

Hello everyone,
I recently started up a frag system and it appears some aptasia got in and started to overtake before I could introduce a CBB and I cut back on aptasia x bc I thought it was hurting my SPS. Well now I have plenty! I finally got my hands on a CBB and he’s been in my tank for a few days now and hasn’t touched any aptasia, so I have a few questions.
Since I know every CBB is different, I’m trying to phrase this question with that in mind:
How long did it take YOUR CBB to start eating aptasia?
Is there such thing as an aptasia being too large for a CBB?
While the CBB is not going after aptasia, what should I feed him?
Is he maybe overwhelmed at seeing so many aptasia?
As more questions come to mind I will ask more. TIA everyone!

 

[GoVols]

Well,
Copperband's can be hard to get to eat. I would not buy one unless I saw it eat and not just brine shrimp.
You may want to try PE Mysis.

If you don't have any wrasses or could remove them.
The best that I've found is Berghia Nudibranch's. They are reef safe and the only thing they eat is aptasia.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Well,
Copperband's can be hard to get to eat. I would not buy one unless I saw it eat and not just brine shrimp.
You may want to try PE Mysis.

If you don't have any wrasses or could remove them.
The best that I've found is Berghia Nudibranch's. They are reef safe and the only thing they eat is aptasia.

Mine was eating at the LFS, he was eating some kind of frozen, then he’s picked at some nori I put in. I will try some mysis, I just didn’t know if feeding him would deter him from eating aptasia. Also he is the only fish I have.

 

[GoVols]

Mine was eating at the LFS, he was eating some kind of frozen, then he’s picked at some nori I put in. I will try some mysis, I just didn’t know if feeding him would deter him from eating aptasia. Also he is the only fish I have.

Copperband's can be hit or miss, when it comes to aptasia.

Either way you got an beautiful CBB...

If he does not take to aptasia the nudi's will do the job.

Wish you all the best.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Copperband's can be hit or miss, when it comes to aptasia.

Either way you got an beautiful CBB...

If he does not take to aptasia the nudi's will do the job.

Wish you all the best.

Thanks! He is so beautiful, I thought he would just be a tool, but I really like him. He’s very social

 

[cracker]

Gotta get the CCB acclimated & eating in it's new home. Try open mussels or clams. ocean krill anything You can think of. Put a piece of Lr in the tank & smash some half frozen in a crack/crevice. Get it eating 1st. This mimics it's normal eating habits.
I would bet once You get it eating good, it will destroy the apastia.

 

[dbl]

I purchased a CBB about three years ago to work on the weeds. I made sure it was eating at the store before buying. It took a while to acclimate to my tank but starting eating in a couple days. Then I waited. It took a couple of months but it finally found the weeds and took care of them in short order. That particular fish is no longer with me.

They are beautiful fish...so much so, I have another one being delivered Wednesday and I don't even have aiptasia...at least at the moment!

 

[theMeat]

Not all copper bands eat aptasia, and some eat zoas

Getting them to eat can be tough, and if they do eat you must invest the time to feed it well of it’ll be short lived.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Hello everyone,
I recently started up a frag system and it appears some aptasia got in and started to overtake before I could introduce a CBB and I cut back on aptasia x bc I thought it was hurting my SPS. Well now I have plenty! I finally got my hands on a CBB and he’s been in my tank for a few days now and hasn’t touched any aptasia, so I have a few questions.
Since I know every CBB is different, I’m trying to phrase this question with that in mind:
How long did it take YOUR CBB to start eating aptasia?
Is there such thing as an aptasia being too large for a CBB?
While the CBB is not going after aptasia, what should I feed him?
Is he maybe overwhelmed at seeing so many aptasia?
As more questions come to mind I will ask more. TIA everyone!

Copperbands really don’t eat aptasia regardless of what you have read. The best butterfly for aptasia control is Chelmon Marginalis which is quite difficult to find and runs about $200. If you do find one though they mow down some aptasia and are far easier to get to eat then the traditional copperband.

 

[cracker]

The Copper Band is my favorite fish. Back to reefer's post. Do what Ya can to get the fish eating. The apastia alone won't do. This fish needs a wide variety of "whole" foods from the sea .

 

[cracker]

Copperbands really don’t eat aptasia regardless of what you have read.

Every CCB Iv'e had over the years, 3 or 4 over 12 years, have taken care of any apastia issues Iv'e had . I guess just a difference in experience.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

The Copper Band is my favorite fish. Back to reefer's post. Do what Ya can to get the fish eating. The apastia alone won't do. This fish needs a wide variety of "whole" foods from the sea .

Thanks cracker

 

[davocean]

I think I've had about 7 CBB's long term over the years, and every one was different.

A couple I had were awesome at eating aptasia, others may have eaten it, but also ate good things too, softies, and I had one that was crazy about pods, and gave too much competition for my mandarin pair, had to go.

Some never ate aptasia or just never ate, so I agree, do what it takes to get them eating.

I have been told the region they are collected from can make a big difference, and I've been told Australian's seem best, but that's hearsay.

One thing I will say, while aptasia X does not totally work(usually babies pop up in place) it can soften and weaken the aptasia making it easier or more desireable for the CBB to start eating it, and once they do, they seem to really develop a taste, from my experience anyway.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Every CCB Iv'e had over the years, 3 or 4 over 12 years, have taken care of any apastia issues Iv'e had . I guess just a difference in experience.

Now comes the fun did you actually have copper bands or get margined butterfly fish instead. I see Marginalis mislabeled as copperbands constantly.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

I purchased a CBB about three years ago to work on the weeds. I made sure it was eating at the store before buying. It took a while to acclimate to my tank but starting eating in a couple days. Then I waited. It took a couple of months but it finally found the weeds and took care of them in short order. That particular fish is no longer with me.

They are beautiful fish...so much so, I have another one being delivered Wednesday and I don't even have aiptasia...at least at the moment!

Dbl I believe it was your post about that CBB that kind of put me at ease that mine was eating aptasia right away! If he doesn’t eat it then no bid deal, he’s gorgeous!

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

I think I've had about 7 CBB's long term over the years, and every one was different.

A couple I had were awesome at eating aptasia, others may have eaten it, but also ate good things too, softies, and I had one that was crazy about pods, and gave too much competition for my mandarin pair, had to go.

Some never ate aptasia.

I have been told the region they are collected from can make a big difference, and I've been told Australian's seem best, but that's hearsay.

One thing I will say, while aptasia X does not totally work(usually babies pop up in place) it can soften and weaken the aptasia making it easier or more desireable for the CBB to start eating it, and once they do, they seem to really develop a taste, from my experience anyway.

Great post! Thank you! Your information is very personal to me and helps a ton!

 

[cracker]

Pretty much positive I have had CCB's .

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Now comes the fun did you actually have copper bands or get margined butterfly fish instead. I see Marginalis mislabeled as copperbands constantly.

Can you tell what mine is by a pic?

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

 

[Orcus Varuna]

That’s rostratus or the cbb here’s Marginalis. They are easy to tell when old it’s when they are small that’s it’s nearly impossible.