Copperband Onto Mysis

piranhaman00 · Mar 13, 2020

Hello,

Just picked up two cbb from great lfs yesterday along with 1/4 lb live black worms in water. Cbb both eating black worms great same day.

Well today I was thawing cubes for other tanks and thought what the heck. Dropped in some frozen Mysis and they both ate it great! Very aggressively and a lot of it. Should I just drop the black worms from their diet now that they are eating prepared? I don’t want to wean them the wrong way haha.

Any thoughts?

Viking_Reefing · Mar 13, 2020

piranhaman00 said:
Hello,

Just picked up two cbb from great lfs yesterday along with 1/4 lb live black worms in water. Cbb both eating black worms great same day.

Well today I was thawing cubes for other tanks and thought what the heck. Dropped in some frozen Mysis and they both ate it great! Very aggressively and a lot of it. Should I just drop the black worms from their diet now that they are eating prepared? I don’t want to wean them the wrong way haha.

Any thoughts?

First of all, that’s great!

How is their general condition? Fat or do they have any pinching going on (especially around the head)?
If so you may want to still give them some black worms to fatten them up.

piranhaman00 · Mar 13, 2020

MichaelE said:
First of all, that’s great!

How is their general condition? Fat or do they have any pinching going on (especially around the head)?
If so you may want to still give them some black worms to fatten them up.

They are looking great imo. They are eating mysis with the same urgency as worms.

Bj’s Reef · Mar 15, 2020

I think you are on the right track. I would stop with the black worms. They seem to be adjusting quite well.

piranhaman00 · Mar 15, 2020

tigerhawk said:
I think you are on the right track. I would stop with the black worms. They seem to be adjusting quite well.

Thanks I’m gonna keep feeding worms once a day while they are at therapeutic copper to keep them plump

OrionN · Mar 16, 2020

It is good that you have them together. It is rare when you have a CBB pair.

piranhaman00 · Mar 20, 2020

OrionN said:
It is good that you have them together. It is rare when you have a CBB pair.

Ya so far they are doing well together, there is a little nipping during feeding. Their final destination is a 180 so I am hoping they have enough room.

Thought I would update. I was feeding a mix of mysis and black worms.The small cbb of the two stopped eating mysis and would only eat blackworms. Would beg for food but not tough mysis. Didnt give in for two days and now he is eating mysis again. So no more black worms are being fed. The black worms are staying alive well in my refrigerator so I am keeping them if I need them. But for now, only mysis.

OrionN · Mar 20, 2020

I really wanted a pair but fail twice so far. Don't want to try again.

piranhaman00 · Mar 20, 2020

OrionN said:
I really wanted a pair but fail twice so far. Don't want to try again.

How did it fail? Did they fight?

OrionN · Mar 20, 2020

They fight, or the older one is very territorial to the new CBB. First time the resident CBB chase the new on into a carpet anemone. The second time I was able to catch the older one and bring him to the LFS. Both time I used an acclimation box. No problem initially but once release, there was chasing. It really surprise me that the CBB does not react to mirror. He just ignored his reflection, but will chase the new CBB.

Flame2hawk · Mar 20, 2020

OrionN said:
They fight, or the older one is very territorial to the new CBB. First time the resident CBB chase the new on into a carpet anemone. The second time I was able to catch the older one and bring him to the LFS. Both time I used an acclimation box. No problem initially but once release, there was chasing. It really surprise me that the CBB does not react to mirror. He just ignored his reflection, but will chase the new CBB.

To have a shot, you have to introduce them at the same time....good luck.

piranhaman00 · Mar 20, 2020

OrionN said:
They fight, or the older one is very territorial to the new CBB. First time the resident CBB chase the new on into a carpet anemone. The second time I was able to catch the older one and bring him to the LFS. Both time I used an acclimation box. No problem initially but once release, there was chasing. It really surprise me that the CBB does not react to mirror. He just ignored his reflection, but will chase the new CBB.

Flame2hawk said:
To have a shot, you have to introduce them at the same time....good luck.

Yes I am hoping because they are young and together now they will be ok when they get to the 180.

atoll · Mar 20, 2020

IME you best feed a variety. I have a thread on here on feeding my CB which is doing great. Try a fresh mussel in the shell. Break it open but feed it in the shell. Once feeding well you can freeze live mussels and just thaw one or two and feed them again attached to the shell. Check out my thread on other foods I got my CB feeding.

OrionN · Mar 20, 2020

I feed my CBB with frozen shell fish. If you freeze life shell fish and from them into the tank frozen, the shell slowly open. With their snout CBB have first crack at the shell fish and eat his fill. Once the shell open more the rest of the fish move in and finish it.
My tank is big enough so that my CBB does not need to eat this. It is just a treat. I live near the bay so I can alway get live oysters. I pry off the sea wall every week or two and just walk out to get some more when I need. Other than oysters I also feed steamer clams and mussels, same way.

piranhaman00 · Mar 20, 2020

atoll said:
IME you best feed a variety. I have a thread on here on feeding my CB which is doing great. Try a fresh mussel in the shell. Break it open but feed it in the shell. Once feeding well you can freeze live mussels and just thaw one or two and feed them again attached to the shell. Check out my thread on other foods I got my CB feeding.

The idea is to get a variety yes.

I purchased cubes of chopped clams and frozen clams in shell from the store. You are saying I can thaw the clam shells and feed them on the shell? How do they eat the clam? Its quite large. Are they able to nip parts of it off? I realize you are using mussles but I see clams mentioned a lot as well.

Thanks!

OrionN · Mar 20, 2020

CBB, once they happy in your tank, will be fine and compete with other fish for food, no problem, but they don't eat dry food, just hunt for worms and other animals, and eat meaty type of food. Dropping the frozen into the tank, the shell initially close but as it thaw out, the shell will open and CBB will have first chance at eating it because of their snout. Eventually, after 15-20 mins, the shell will fully open and the rest of the fish will tear into the clam.

Paul B · Mar 20, 2020

Healthy copperbands will eat any meaty foods especially clams or worms. I have dove with them and their main diet on a reef is worms. This was mine about 9 years old