Copperband Stress Behavior

[John Helm]

I recently added a copperband butterfly fish to my 90 gal sps display tank that’s been running for 7 years. I received the fish from a trusted friend who is very meticulous with his quarantining procedures and overall husbandry, so no I didn’t quarantine this fish. It went from his display tank to mine with proper acclimation. The fish was with him for months and ate frozen mysis and other foods. None of my fish bothered him except for a yellow tang for the first day, but after I put a mirror against the front of the tank, he stopped with the bullying. It’s been three days with the copperband in my tank, and now all he does is swim up and down against the glass on one side of the tank like he’s trying to get out. None of the fish are bothering him at all, but he’s lost interest in food. I do have a 40 breeder tank with live rock running, but it’s been months since I’ve had a fish in there. If all the water parameters (including phosphate, nitrate, nitrite & ammonia) check out, should I put him in that tank or will he finally settle down in your experience? I don’t want to cause more stress by moving him again, but he’s obviously under stress at the moment. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. I had a copperband before and he did well until the heater malfunctioned, so I do have experience getting them to eat and flourish. Thanks.

John

 

[dbl]

John...I went through this exact thing about 3-4 months ago, with the exception mine went through the QT process. It was eating frozen at the store and eating in QT. Once put in my 120g display, the yellow tang was none too happy with his new mate. Took about three days in my case for things to settle down.

The CBB showed the same characteristics as you describe. Took a little over a week until he finally started to eat. I was getting very nervous but then he started to eat. Took another nearly 4 weeks before he finally found his appetite for the aiptasia, the reason I purchased it.

I would say give it a little time and see what happens. Hopefully things will settle, he'll get more comfortable and begin eating. From what I've read, this is pretty normal. Good luck.

 

[KJ]

A+ ^^^^

 

[John Helm]

OK, thanks for the encouragement. I shut the lights off and covered the tank partially and he calmed down considerably. I'll just give it some time and monitor things carefully.

 

[4FordFamily]

It can take them quite awhile. In the time being, live black worms and live mysis are almost impossible to ignore for these guys. Keep stress down and be patient. They can go a long time without eating but after a couple weeks your odds of getting them to begin feeding again decrease by the day. I would invest in black worms and live mysis ASAP and then relax until he eats.

Just out of curiousity, does he pace up and down the tank on the side with the mirror? I wouldn't consider Copperbands remotely aggressive but some have noted that they can be with members of their own species.

 

[dbl]

In the time being, live black worms...I would invest in black worms...

Not to high jack here, but @4FordFamily, where do you get your live black worms from? Do have a LFS or do you order them?

 

[John Helm]

I took the mirror away which was on the front of the tank. He paces up and down against the glass on the left side, but since I shut the lights off he hasn't done it which is encouraging. My lfs has both live black worms and brine shrimp, but I'm not sure if they have live mysis. With my last copperband, it was tricky to get him to begin eating. I took a plastic jar and drilled holes in the lid. I put a piece of rock in the jar to weigh it down, and I'd fill it with tank water and pour some live brine shrimp in it. After putting the lid on, I'd place it on the tank bottom and the brine shrimp would come out of the holes little by little. He'd eventually poke his mouth through the holes to catch them. It's really the most natural way to feed them - they don't seem to like feeding out of the water column until they learn they have no choice. Black worms were good but since they're freshwater critters they died in about 30 seconds, after which time he ignored them.

 

[4FordFamily]

Not to high jack here, but @4FordFamily, where do you get your live black worms from? Do have a LFS or do you order them?

California black worms I believe, I google searched them. It's been a couple months I need to buy some again

 

[4FordFamily]

I took the mirror away which was on the front of the tank. He paces up and down against the glass on the left side, but since I shut the lights off he hasn't done it which is encouraging. My lfs has both live black worms and brine shrimp, but I'm not sure if they have live mysis. With my last copperband, it was tricky to get him to begin eating. I took a plastic jar and drilled holes in the lid. I put a piece of rock in the jar to weigh it down, and I'd fill it with tank water and pour some live brine shrimp in it. After putting the lid on, I'd place it on the tank bottom and the brine shrimp would come out of the holes little by little. He'd eventually poke his mouth through the holes to catch them. It's really the most natural way to feed them - they don't seem to like feeding out of the water column until they learn they have no choice. Black worms were good but since they're freshwater critters they died in about 30 seconds, after which time he ignored them.

I meant live brine that should work well

Sounds like you know what you're doing! Good idea. Blackworms don't last long enough to die in saltwater IME

 

[Gogoggansgo]

I recently added a copperband butterfly fish to my 90 gal sps display tank that’s been running for 7 years. I received the fish from a trusted friend who is very meticulous with his quarantining procedures and overall husbandry, so no I didn’t quarantine this fish. It went from his display tank to mine with proper acclimation. The fish was with him for months and ate frozen mysis and other foods. None of my fish bothered him except for a yellow tang for the first day, but after I put a mirror against the front of the tank, he stopped with the bullying. It’s been three days with the copperband in my tank, and now all he does is swim up and down against the glass on one side of the tank like he’s trying to get out. None of the fish are bothering him at all, but he’s lost interest in food. I do have a 40 breeder tank with live rock running, but it’s been months since I’ve had a fish in there. If all the water parameters (including phosphate, nitrate, nitrite & ammonia) check out, should I put him in that tank or will he finally settle down in your experience? I don’t want to cause more stress by moving him again, but he’s obviously under stress at the moment. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. I had a copperband before and he did well until the heater malfunctioned, so I do have experience getting them to eat and flourish. Thanks.

John

My long nose is doing the same dang thing, he eating and not one of the other fish mess with him.