copperband butterfly reef safe?

[Michael pugh]

I have a frag tank that has a bit of an aptasia issue. would love to get a copperband to solve the issue.

the tank is 50 gallons with numerous zoas.

will this fish eat the zoas or am I ok?

 

[ncaldwell]

Mine never bothered them but every fish is different

 

[Brett newell]

My buddy has a tank with only zoas and his copper band never touches them.

 

[pcon]

http://lmgtfy.com/?s=b&q=copperband+butterfly+reef+safe?

This topic has been talked to death. The copper band butterfly is not 100% reef safe though it is better than many of its cousins.

They will eat feather dusters. They likely will find another coral that they like. Zoas are a popular treat, mine eats pipe organ corals, many eat euphylia. They likely will not eat aptasia.

They are Expert Only fish, not a utility fish to be thrown in to any tank. They require proper planning from tank, stocking, and conditioning.

 

[saltyhog]

Mine eats aiptasia aggressively. It has never touched anything else except feather dusters. I have lots of zoas without problems.

That said there are lots of non fish options to work on your aiptasia, especially in a frag tank.

 

[cracker]

These fish, I "think" are not so delicate. Iv'e had several for years. Every one took care of apastia in short order & never nibbled on any corals. They just require mellow neighbors & a good varied diet from the sea to live long term. I say go for a Copper band in the frag tank. They will take care of nasty's on your frag plugs. After all that's pretty much how they make a living in the wild.

 

[Michael pugh]

Mine eats aiptasia aggressively. It has never touched anything else except feather dusters. I have lots of zoas without problems.

That said there are lots of non fish options to work on your aiptasia, especially in a frag tank.

what are some other options? I've tried peppermint shrimp with no luck. I also have a wrasse so I dont want to try those nudies

 

[Michael pugh]

I understand they require mixed meaty foods. I'm fully ok with that cause every fish I've owned got a different food every time. I know i wouldn't want to eat the same thing every day why should they.

i am a fan of frozen foods but also like pellets and flakes. will these guys eat them?

 

[4FordFamily]

Definitely not reef safe and indeed a gamble. I’ve found them to occasionally eat majanos and aiptasia but find them a poor choice for this task due to their difficulty and propensity to eat coral.

I find the matted filefish to be a better choice as I feel a higher proportion of them eat the problem anemones, and although they too may develop a taste for coral, they’re VERY slow and easy to remove— often hanging out by the powerheads at the top for an easy net! So if you get a problem child it’s easy to remove and shuffle until you find one with the desired behavior. Once the problem coral are gone you can remove it because they will likely eventually eat coral in the absence of the nems.

 

[Michael pugh]

Definitely not reef safe and indeed a gamble. I’ve found them to eat majanos and aiptasia but find them a poor choice for this task due to their difficulty and propensity to eat coral.

I find the matted filefish to be a better choice as I feel a higher properotion of them eat the problem anemones, and although they too may develop a taste for coral, they’re VERY slow and easy to remove— often hanging out by the powerheads at the top for an easy net!

aren't these super finicky eaters?

 

[4FordFamily]

aren't these super finicky eaters?

No I’ve kept several over the years I find them to be hardy and easy to feed/keep.

You may be thinking of the orangespotted filefish. I’ve only found the matted to be useful for problem anemone removal.

 

[crayon]

I made a copperband feeder from a pvc coupling with a threaded end on one side and a magnet on the other. Drilled a couple countersunk holes in the coupling so the copperband could stick his beak in but the other fish could not.
Worked really well. Used mysis or Larry’s stuffed into the holder.
I agree, copperband butterflies need to have really calm tank mates. Nothing large or fast. My sailfin and purple tangs were way to aggressive with the copperband.
He did eat all the aptasia in the tank.

 

[Michael pugh]

I made a copperband feeder from a pvc coupling with a threaded end on one side and a magnet on the other. Drilled a couple countersunk holes in the coupling so the copperband could stick his beak in but the other fish could not.
Worked really well. Used mysis or Larry’s stuffed into the holder.
I agree, copperband butterflies need to have really calm tank mates. Nothing large or fast. My sailfin and purple tangs were way to aggressive with the copperband.
He did eat all the aptasia in the tank.

I currently only have a mal wrasse and 2 clowns. think they would be ok.

 

[Kmsutows]

For most people, 99% of the time they are very finicky eaters. Aptaisia will be hit or miss. And no they will not eat pellets or flakes, 99.999% of the time. I've read of like two people who were able to accomplish this.

 

[Michael pugh]

For most people, 99% of the time they are very finicky eaters. Aptaisia will be hit or miss. And no they will not eat pellets or flakes, 99.999% of the time. I've read of like two people who were able to accomplish this.

I plan on keeping one in a separate tank prior to introducing it to other tankmates. liveaquaria has them eating prior to shipping. I'm hoping these steps provide a good attempt to keeping them

 

[ZachR32]

I would try a mollie miller Blenny. Have had good luck with them eating aiptasia as well as all types of algae. They're very non discriminate in food selection and don't require as much care or swimming room as the CBB

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

CBB is not completely reef safe, no doubt, but I think its less risky than this thread makes it out to be.

Mine is completely reef safe except feather dusters, but I wouldn't put a clam in with it. It's only one fish and I've only had it since November but it doesn't even look at any corals.

I have been a fan of cbb for decades. I have seen a few eat zoas and a few eat euphillia but mostly they have been fairly safe with those. Acans and other meaty. lps are a little more at risk, but they always are more risky around with caution fish. They must be delicious.

As far as aptasia goes, I've never really taken note of how often a CBB will eat them as I have luckily been able to stay free of them.

My CBB has become one of my favorite fish all time and worth the risk IMO.

 

[Mark Gray]

Definitely not reef safe and indeed a gamble. I’ve found them to occasionally eat majanos and aiptasia but find them a poor choice for this task due to their difficulty and propensity to eat coral.

I find the matted filefish to be a better choice as I feel a higher proportion of them eat the problem anemones, and although they too may develop a taste for coral, they’re VERY slow and easy to remove— often hanging out by the powerheads at the top for an easy net! So if you get a problem child it’s easy to remove and shuffle until you find one with the desired behavior. Once the problem coral are gone you can remove it because they will likely eventually eat coral in the absence of the nems.

Well now I am rethinking my fish for my new build. I have always liked butterflies and angels, but I want SPS more I think

 

[paul barker]

I got a filefish to do the job big mistake after the aphasia it kills my rock anemone

 

[Gareth elliott]

Nems, jellyfish, corals etc are all very closely related. You cant expect every fish to eat just one, unless its obligate to one.
This is very rare in nature and usually found in closed ecosystems, or very regional species. Ie different Lemur species in different parts of Madagascar.