Copperband Butterflyfish

[Manos]

Hello reefers!
My copperband started a strange behavior without knowing the reason, it has the head to the sky mostly on the syrface, something like trying to breath air!
Sometimes swims backwards and other times behaves strange like it is blind...
Can i do something about it? Everything concerning the water chemistry is at point! The tank is 5 months old, with other 10 fishes and 5 softies.
Please advice!

TYIA.

 

[jorwill]

pics of things help even a video of the actions you mean. whites on preferably.

 

[Manos]

Here you go...

 

[Tamberav]

Here you go...

This fish is extremely malnourished. it looks like it is on its way out.

 

[Manos]

This fish is extremely malnourished. it looks like it is on its way out.

The truth is that im trying to make it eat 4 days now with no luck! The lfs told me that they eat frozen mysis but this particular fish does not! Is there something i can do at this point? Or is it pointless???

 

[Tamberav]

It probably should not have been sold to you, it can't get that skinny in 4 days. It probably was not in good condition when you bought it. They should be fed things like live worms, live clams, and frozen LRS. Mysis isn't enough if there isn't natural worms for it to eat in the tank.

Always ask to see the fish eating at the store. Never buy overly skinny fish as once they get too far gone, they end up with organ damage.

They are not fish for beginners, difficult to get eating and fragile. A lot of times getting the right specimen helps, a fat one already eating.

 

[Gtinnel]

The truth is that im trying to make it eat 4 days now with no luck! The lfs told me that they eat frozen mysis but this particular fish does not! Is there something i can do at this point? Or is it pointless???

They are one of the more picky fish to get eating. They may eat frozen but that is often not the case at first. I bought one a few months ago and was never able to get it eating. If you have a lfs that sells live black or white worms that is your best bet. If you can't get live worms then I would reccomend trying small pieces of fresh clam or mussel.

The only thing I could ever get mine to eat (besides my corals) were live white worms and by the time I got it eating it was too late for him.

 

[dedragon]

Does this fish have ich as well? its hard to tell on a copperband but this one might. I dont think this one is long for this world, sorry

 

[Gtinnel]

Does this fish have ich as well? its hard to tell on a copperband but this one might. I dont think this one is long for this world, sorry

I assumed it was lymphocystis because of the malnutrition, I know it's not uncommon to see in cbb.