copperband butterfly fish feeding question

[Ro Bow]

like the title says i have a question about feeding a copperband butterfly fish. Would feeding it black worms for a while be ok and then trying to get it to eat frozen later. I was wondering how often to feed, and how much. Thanks.

 

[Uncle99]

like the title says i have a question about feeding a copperband butterfly fish. Would feeding it black worms for a while be ok and then trying to get it to eat frozen later. I was wondering how often to feed, and how much. Thanks.

I would inquire an feed exactly what he’s being fed now.
Very finicky fish so stick with that first.

 

[Ro Bow]

i dont have it yet, i will in a few months

 

[Ro Bow]

so what would i feed it?

 

[Uncle99]

I would inquire an feed exactly what he’s being fed now, if that’s worms then fine.
Very finicky fish so stick with that first.

Exactly what’s been keeping him going from where he’s is now?
It’s the best way.
He’ll may test other stuff in the DT and you can go from their.
I would not buy this fish without that knowledge.
This fish can be problematic in feeding, the person, store, or online shop will be glad to give you this info.

 

[Fudsey]

I've been feeding mine Masstick, the powder mix, NOT the premix. Mine loves it. I do mix in a little LRS Reef Frenzy to get him to eat some frozen but he will not take LRS from the water column.

 

[Ro Bow]

how often would i feed, and how much? would twice

 

[Gtinnel]

Around a month ago I tried a copperband butterfly fish and I couldn't get him eating in time. If he won't eat frozen but will take black worms that I would feed black worms, but like @Uncle99 suggested feed him whatever the lfs was feeding him. I strongly suggest not buying him unless you see him eat.
The only thing I was able to get mine to eat was live white worms (well besides the duncan and hammer corals), you may want to look into setting up a culture before you get the cbb. I wish I would've.

 

[Fudsey]

I feed daily and he picks at the rocks constantly at pods I believe.

 

[Ro Bow]

how often do you feed, also would it be ok if i got it online?

 

[Ro Bow]

oh thanks

 

[dedragon]

+1 dont buy it unless it is eating, mine only ate black worms at first, then transferred onto mysis and now LRS frozen foods

 

[Gtinnel]

how often do you feed, also would it be ok if i got it online?

I would try to feed mine several times a day without any luck until a day or two before he died. I would personally not get one without seeing it eat in person. I got mine locally and asked if it was eating frozen but stupidly didn't ask them to let me see it eat.

 

[Ro Bow]

there arent any lfs's near me with copperbands. What should i do?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Blackworms are acceted readily BUT if not consumed can quickly foul the tank. I got mine to eat with LRS herbivore diet but foods to entice vary.
Mine is an eating machine - eats anything including pellets.

 

[dedragon]

buying from places like marinecollectors or tsmaquatics that are great with qt protocol and make sure fish are eating before they sell them, but its expensive. if not i would wait til they come in and ask your store about their qt procedure

 

[Gtinnel]

An advantage of white worms is that they will survive in the tank for several days, so if not eaten immediately they won't effect water quality.

 

[Ro Bow]

oh, so white worms then? would the LRS herbivore blend be ok as well

 

[dedragon]

i dont find that to be too much an issue with blackworms for copperbands as you need a large size tank for them anyway, and all the other fish usually end up picking at the blackworms that are blown in the current while the copperband likes the initial clump of wriggling worms more. rest are easily dispatched by shrimp, hermit crabs, and nassarius snails. Its also harder to get white worms (at least near me)

 

[dedragon]

how do you guys get white worms?