Copperband butterfly reef safe?

[tweeter]

I have a 125 mixed reef tank, with lots of LPS, acans, lobo's etc and some SPS.I have tried to be very careful to keep a watch out for aptasia when I get new stock in, but it's hard to catch them all. Whenever I find one I get it out as soon as I see any. I went for a long time without ever having any, but I have recently found some in my sand bed. I pick them out when I see them, but they seem to be multiplying. So I was thinking about getting a Copperband butterfly to help rid the tank of aptasia before it gets an upper hand. Has anyone here had any trouble with the Copperband eating your corals, either SPS or LPS? I'm very Leary of trying a Copperband, I'm afraid that I will end up regretting it when it starts munching on corals.

 

[KJ]

I had one just for that problem sometime back and he was a model citizen and he took care of the problem and I did not have any problems with him to pick on any of the sps and lps corals, it does not mean though that if you buy one that the copperband will fix the problem,you have a 50-50 % chance, some do ,some don`t. That is why copperband is labeled add with caution in reef tanks.

 

[Humblefish]

Your acans might be at risk. I also wouldn't trust a CBB with zoas and clams.

 

[4FordFamily]

Your acans might be at risk. I also wouldn't trust a CBB with zoas and clams.

X2

 

[tweeter]

Is there another fish that is reef safe that eats aptasia?

 

[Matthias7]

I added a copperband to my mixed reef and after about 6 months I have no more aptasia. I do have a large clam and have had no issues so far

 

[saltyhog]

Your acans might be at risk. I also wouldn't trust a CBB with zoas and clams.

Yours/mine has been a model citizen. I worried about some of my more expensive zoas but so far zoas and acans are not on the menu so far. Fingers crossed!

 

[DeniseAndy]

My CBB was wonderful for over a year and a half till it matured and then it ate trachys, lps, acans, etc. JME

 

[Humblefish]

Is there another fish that is reef safe that eats aptasia?

Matted Filefish (but those will sometimes nip at corals as well.) Peppermint Shrimp will sometimes eat the small ones, and the Berghia nudibranch is supposed to be best for eradicating them. But I believe they starve after all aiptasia are gone.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I am in the same boat for needed an aiptasia eater. My CBB got re-homed, my file fish never made out of qt, my bergia and shrimp get eaten by wrasse. AAHHHGGGG!

 

[tweeter]

Thanks to everyone for your replys. Where can I purchase the bergia nudibranch.? I have a Lubbocks, exquisite, and an ornate leopard wrasse, will these eat the nudibranchs?
Does the matted file nip or eat corals?

 

[Humblefish]

Where can I purchase the bergia nudibranch.?

https://saltyunderground.com/category/berghia-nudibranch

 

[tweeter]

https://saltyunderground.com/category/berghia-nudibranch

Thanks!

 

[cracker]

Mixed testimonials here. I have had 3 over the years they all were model citizens./ They will over time waste away if not properly fed. I mean oyster clam shrimp heads etc.