Copperbanded butterfly acting crazy

[Aquamomma85]

She keeps to the top of the tank with her beak out of the water a good share of the time . Why is she doing this any help would be great dont wanna lose my baby

 

[Aquamomma85]

She keeps to the top of the tank with her beak out of the water a good share of the time . Why is she doing this any help would be great dont wanna lose my baby

Well she didnt make it took a turn for the worse an hour ago and passed away I'm so sad ,, I hate losing fish I try to provide the best care and home possible

 

[JumboShrimp]

Was it a new-purchase? I could not get mine to eat anything and it died within a week and a half. I doubt I’d ever try another one, given their reputation... unless possibly I bought Masstick to feed it. Sorry about your loss!

 

[Aquamomma85]

Thanks yeah I only had her in my dt for 3 days she seemed ok the first day but declined pretty fast and I will also probably pass on another one

 

[Damon Jensen]

I just added one. Watched in the Lfs for a month, at and now in my dt. Seems to be doing ok, not sure she is getting enough to eat. Fairly confident fish.

 

[Aquamomma85]

I just added one. Watched in the Lfs for a month, at and now in my dt. Seems to be doing ok, not sure she is getting enough to eat. Fairly confident fish.

My lfs qted for me for almost 3 months made sure she was eating and doing well . I brought her home and bam this happened . I wish you and your sea baby luck and hope you have better luck then I did

 

[JumboShrimp]

Unless you can get ‘live black worms’ like everyone says— seems easier said than done to me— buy Masstick right away and start pressing it into your rocks, that would be my advice.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sounds like it was begging for oxygen. Check ammonia and nitrate levels as well as temp and salinity

 

[Kingston]

Lost my CBB yesterday after 2 weeks in my DT. Refused to eat. I'm not giving up on them. Will try again but let those who have had success give us their recommendations.
Have heard:
Masstick
Live black worms
Using pvc feeder
Worm feeder with holes
Clam tied to rock
Don't quarantine
Do quarantine

 

[ReefHog]

I QTd one (my 1st one) a few months ago. Was eating good at LFS so I put it on hold and set up my 20gal QT. After I got him home he ate San Fran Mysis, PE Mysis and black worms right away and then went on hunger strike. After a day or two I got him to eat clam slices by feeding with plastic tweezers. He wouldn't eat from the water column. Another day or so and he was back eating PE Mysis along with the clam slices. Then another hunger strike. Then eating live brine, mysis and clam slices. Then hunger strike and so on throughout first 30 days of the QT. Was very frustrating. I medicated 20gal QT with CP for first 14 days then transferred to new 29gal observation tank with black molly for next 30 days. He was QTd with a second fish, so that may have helped coax him into eating. The last 15 days he ate all the time. He's been in my 220 mixed reef for over a month now and eats three times a day rotating PE Mysis, San Fran Mysis, Hikari Mysis, Live Black worms & Clam slices. He picks at LRS but not sure if he's really eating it. He never took to Masstick. My limited advise would be to make sure CBB is eating before you buy. Have ample food sources and plastic tweezers available before you purchase. I was supprised how many times he would eat from tweezers but not from the water column. If he eats something while in QT, stick with it. (I got smart a few times and would switch up food only to have him turn up his nose at the food he was just eating when I tried another food) Feed three or four smaller feedings a day rather than one or two big ones. I always QT two fish at a time. I believe it makes the fish feel less stressful. My CBB and Moorish Idol always hang out together now even in the 220gal.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Helpful info, @ReefHog

 

[Kingston]

Thanks @ReefHog...I am eyeing one each new at 2 different LFS. One eats blood worms and mysis. The other eats mysis. I'm looking to find another fish to QT them together before I get one of the CBB. My LFSs don't have much selection lately due to COVID I think. Options include Naso, yellow eye Kole, yellow tang, tricolor angel and few other non reef safe Angels. My tank is 375g, 3 months old and has 7 small fishes at the moment. I don't want to introduce the aggressive fishes such as yellow tangs yet.