Copperbands and masstick

I have a difficult Copperband that I'm trying to get to eat. I'm aware of most of the solutions that work and am going through them. Right now I've stuck a glob of masstick on the wall where he hangs out. He now keeps his mouth right next to that glob, opens and shuts it's mouth but doesn't fully commits to just biting a chunk out. It's crazy. Is it just trying to get the nerve???

I got it because I have an explosion of aitptasia but so far it's shown no interest in picking at my live rock. So far this piece of masstick is the only current hope.
Have you seen the CBB pick at the rocks? If he/she isn't grazing on even the live rock. There might be problems with the fish. Hoping there isn't
 
Will this keep them from ever picking at aiptasia on the rocks? That is the reason I got this fish... I have enough aiptasia to last him months!
They prefer mysis. Mine never goes after aptasia, they are very picky about their food and sort of stick to what they like. Some cbbs go after aptasia but not all. I've had more luck getting rid of aptasia with nudi's.
Probably not they are constant grazers... if he will actually eat aptasia you will look one day and they will all be gone
Yea, this. A single cbb likely won't remove all of them either, they out pace his appetite and will grow places he can't swim. Nudi's will continue to split / eat them until they are gone.
Mine only seams to get interested when I miss feeding for a couple days. Although he is constantly grazing aptasia looks to be the least favorite food in the tank. Berghia nudis do a much better job of clearing them out, just don't add them where the copperband can get right at them or you will have just given him the most expensive meal you will ever feed it.
I added nudi's at night a month ago. The cbb has not found them yet, one was on the glass the other day before the lights came on.
 

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I added nudi's at night a month ago. The cbb has not found them yet, one was on the glass the other day before the lights came on.


I've had nudis in my tank for over 6 months now and I definitely am seeing an impact on the aptasia. They just take a long time to get their numbers up to where they really start putting a dent in them. I think most people who have tried berghia nudibranch and say they didn't work were just impatient. I find them in my overflow and sump all the time.
 
I put half Manila or Venus clams into Two Little Fishies feeder pouch…works on my CBB and keeping other fishes from eating it before the CBB.

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Have you seen the CBB pick at the rocks? If he/she isn't grazing on even the live rock. There might be problems with the fish. Hoping there isn't
It has not been picking at live rock at all. But it's only been in the tank 5 days. It now greedily eats the masstick off the wall. But still seems timid overall. I don't see any health issues at this point.
 
I have used Lees worm feeder containing frozen mysis to start. The mysis move inside the cone with the flow to appear live. I also rubber and a half clam to a rock that I carefully scissor into long strips so the strip move in the flow that also appears live. Cope bands are not naturally column feeders, so they have to “hunt” in a more natural way at first.
 
I have white worms and no luck so far. I haven't had luck with any of the normal suggestions.
If you feed it live worms and it does not go for it then you likely not going to have a CBB for long. Good luck
 
I’ve seen some go crazy for masstick and others just won’t go for it at all. This product seems hit or miss with different species of fish and even the same type of fish. Myself I have yet to have mush luck with masstick. Good luck with your aptasia it took me a while to get a rid of mine but I did it myself using Aptasia-X
 
Any updates on the copperband?
He is doing great. I feed him masstick stuck to the wall several times per week. I still can't get him to feed on anything else but he is constantly pecking at the sand and rocks. Can't say my Aiptasia are disappearing though. But my featherdusters are gone! :-( It really is a beautiful fish.
 
He is doing great. I feed him masstick stuck to the wall several times per week. I still can't get him to feed on anything else but he is constantly pecking at the sand and rocks. Can't say my Aiptasia are disappearing though. But my featherdusters are gone! :-( It really is a beautiful fish.
im glad he is eating that at least. I have not had luck with cbb's. They are beautiful fish, but dang, they are difficult.
 
im glad he is eating that at least. I have not had luck with cbb's. They are beautiful fish, but dang, they are difficult.
And now my Aiptasia are almost gone all of a sudden too!
 
The challenge is getting them eating prepared foods by the time your tank runs out of natural microfauna for it to survive on. Sounds like you're about there, does he eat food you provide?
 
The challenge is getting them eating prepared foods by the time your tank runs out of natural microfauna for it to survive on. Sounds like you're about there, does he eat food you provide?
It loves masstick stuck to the glass. I can't get it to eat anything else (other than natural grazing)
 
It loves masstick stuck to the glass. I can't get it to eat anything else (other than natural grazing)
Try putting the masstic in a clam shell(or any feeder) and get him eating that. Once he does, slowly start mixing in other foods
 
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This thread has given me some hope. Once my new display is set up and running, I believe Ill try to give a cbb another shot. Masstick wasnt a thing the last time i tried to keep one.
 

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