Copperband not eating

[Jvesche20]

I just purchase a copper band and it was eating frozen blood worms at my lfs. I introduced him last night and my pbt was chasing him around but let off and now my purple tang will chase him if he goes near his territory. I fed my tank with the normal frozen food I feed. The copper band didn’t bite. Then I tried frozen blood worms that he was eating last night. He went up to it but then swam away. He seemed interested but didn’t go for it. Then I tried frozen mysis but I scared him off and the purple tang started to chase him. I had a copper band that was eating frozen food and after a few days the tank mates stopped picking on him. He ended up dying from a bacterial infection. I decided to get a new one but wanted to see what to do. Should I give it time and maybe the purple tang will stop chasing him? Is he not eating because he’s too stressed?

 

[maroun.c]

I would give him a few days to settle down, definitely keep feeding a variety of foods hopefully he'll bite at something. if you have any feather dusters in the sump collect and place in the tank as they typically go for those. they also frequently go for blood worms but need to get him to feed on mysis after.

 

[dhuynh]

Try putting a big mirror next to the tank to move the aggression away from the cbb. Then try cracking a live clam open and hanging it near the cbb.

 

[CDavmd]

Honestly, I’d suggest getting him out into a quarantine tank and take time to get him settled on his own and eating. Fatten him up them after a few weeks bring him back to the main tank and in an acclimation box for a few days.

The mirror is also helpful to diffuse aggression.

Once in the main tank consider putting food inside a small pvc pipe with holes drilled into the side so only the CBB can get into it.

 

[NeverlosT]

I just put two in my QT a week ago and both deceased from not eating, I am no newbie and I tried eeeeevery kind of food out there.

Perhaps they are just challenging to get eating. I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty.

Redirecting tang aggession is sure to help though.

 

[AZRipp]

I just put two in my QT a week ago and both deceased from not eating...

Sadly, this is often the case. If this doesn't happen, then oftentimes they will turn to polyps, even when weaned onto something like mysis. This happened to me.

 

[jd371]

First one died to a bacterial infection in the QT, happened very quickly, the second one was started right off with antibiotics from day one. I was able to fatten it up with live black worms in the time it was in the QT, really went after them with gusto. It was a smooth transition to the main tank and eventually he started eating other stuff I fed my fish. If you can find live black worms try those, most fish can't resist the wriggling and get a good feeding response.

 

[smartwater101]

I just put two in my QT a week ago and both deceased from not eating, I am no newbie and I tried eeeeevery kind of food out there.

Perhaps they are just challenging to get eating. I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty.

Redirecting tang aggession is sure to help though.

They're notorious for being finicky eaters. Most butterflies I've had will go after live bloodworms. And then later transition to various frozen foods. If they dont go for live bloodworms or live brine... amphipods have yet to fail me.

Even the pickiest of butterflies will perk right up for amphipods. Small copepods can help, but the bigger bugs seems to encourage them much more.

https://aquariumdepot.com/amphipods-copepods-1000/

@Jvesche20

Seed your tank with amphipods. If you can catch and QT that might be the way to go. Get him eating first. If its going to be too difficult to catch, keep trying live foods like bloodworms and brine, before (slowly) transitioning to frozen. But definitely get some bugs in there for it to hunt.

 

[EmdeReef]

CBBs are difficult fish to get eating and also will not do well under stress. I would agree to take him out and put in a separate QT or at least an acclimation box to get it eating something before introducing to your DT.

I’ve found live clams to be one of the better ways to entice them to eat.

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

A few things ...

1. Yes he is stressed in a new environment. Could take him few days to come around and eat.

2 you could try putting the biggest aggressor (maybe the purple tang) in an acclimation box during the next feeding so he copperband can have the freedom to eat without being chased if he wants.

3 try soaking the food in garlic. OR what worked for me to get my butterfly to eat was go buy a dozen fresh clams or mussels from the grocery store seafood counter. Rinse and was one off very well. Use a knife to split the shell in half and you can put a drop of garlic on it and put it on the bottom of the tank. He will go to town on it !