How reef safe are copper band butterflys?

Seasonedreefer · Oct 12, 2011

I've heard some people say they are and others say they aren't. I wanna get rid of or at least control aptasia in my tank. it's gotten to the point where I'm tired of zapping them with kalk and other stuff. I have a mixed reef so..... acans, zoos, palys,plates,tracs,lobes,SPS montis etc. Does anyone have these in there reef with success?

ToXIc · Oct 12, 2011

you may get your answer plus more in one of these thread..

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-discussion/69115-aiptasia-get-copper-band-not.html
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-discussion/46353-aiptasia.html
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-discussion/22184-chance-copper-band-eating-sps.html

these are just some to start but there are much much more threads involving this topic

sucker_fish · Oct 12, 2011

I'll share my experiences with my CBB. First off let me say this is one of my favorite fish, I got one a couple years ago and put him in my mixed reef.

THE GOOD-This guy absolutely wreaked havoc on my aptasia, he completely decimated all of my approx. 20 aptasias I had in the tank.
-He eats frozen mysis from my hand (this guy is an absolute pig) he also eats other meaty foods but not as well as the mysis
-He hasnt bothered my sps, clam, LPS or softies corals
THE BAD- while he doesnt bother my corals or my clam he has eaten my feather dusters and my coco worm
He doesnt get along well with my yellow tang, no bad incidents but if he ventures down to the tangs end of the tank he gets chased off and if the tang comes down to his endof the tank he chases the tang guess its a love hate
relationship.

Seasonedreefer · Oct 12, 2011

sucker_fish, Thanks for your response I don't have any feathers so I think I'll be safe there. I'm more worried about my clams and acans I hear they like acans and zoos.

mojo · Oct 12, 2011

Corey I had one for about 24 hours it would tear apart my scans. Get ya about 4 peppermint shrimp and throw Em in there

Tab28 · Oct 12, 2011

I am on the fence on this fish. I would love one but it is a hit or miss when it comes to corals. My LFS told me you can get one that does not bother corals and the chance of that may be slightly better than 50/50. But they also told me they have not gotten one that will leave acans alone. They are like crack to a CBB. They have heard of tanks with both and no issues but had yet gotten one in. I love my acans.

Also if you get one be sure they are eating frozen foods. They can be hard to get to eat. If are like me the post on the peppermint shrimp in a much safer bet, just be sure they are real peppermint shimp. Some places list other types as peppermints.

slk55r · Oct 12, 2011

cbb

In my old tank I had an outbreak of aptasia and finally got a cbb. He chowed down all the aptasia but wouldn't eat anything else. After all the aptasia was gone it died.

This was in a mixed reef. Never saw him touch my corals.

pcfish · Oct 12, 2011

I had a copper band a few years back never bothered my clams or acans or any other coral was a good reef citizen and did a good job on the aptasia. I lost him when I moved my tank. I have been battling with aptasia again so I decided to get another copper band took three of them before I could get one to eat any frozen mysis so I lost two and I have had my third now for a month and he is happy eating not bothering my corals but also not interested in the aptasia so I am still trying to get rid of the aptasia but I have a great new fish in my tank. I think it is going to be hit or miss on copper bands some do some don’t. Good luck with whatever you decide

Seasonedreefer · Oct 12, 2011

Jesse, I had a few peppermints and they really didn't do anything for me. Not to mention my mystery wrasse is now big enough to eat them. So I'm sure any peppermints I put in will become lunch. I only have a few acans here and there so if he does tear into them I won't be to upset. I just don't want one that pics at my clam or higher end zoos. I know CBB's eat aptasia my brother purchased one and it worked awesome. No offense to my younger brother but if he can keep one alive in his disaster of a tank then I should be able to keep one. ; )

Coral Pimp · Oct 12, 2011

I had a quarter size copperband that was nipping on my acans! Not cool! Had to take down the whole tank to get him out!

mojo · Oct 12, 2011

lol,ihear ya corey. Mine only ate my acans but I didnt wait long enough to see if he bothered anyhting else. THey are really cool in the tank though.

re-fin-away · Oct 12, 2011

I have one comming in on Thurs from LA. I made a little eggcrate cover for my acans and zoas so they can stay in my tank until my sons tank is ready for them. Cant wait to see this fish in action.

SunnyX · Oct 12, 2011

I added a CBB a couple weeks ago and he has done a great job destroying aptasia. My tangs didn't like bin at first, and I had to place the CBB is on of my farm tanks. I placed the CBB in my display for a second time and he is now getting along with the tangs. I added some large pieces of live rock, and I think that that small change made a difference in the tang temperament.

I had a CBB in my old 225gl inwall reef for more that three years. During that time he did great. Sadly, he died when I transported over to another display.

The CBB's can be hit or miss, but I have had great experiences with them.

Thanks,

Sonny

mikezalewski · Oct 12, 2011

I have not really used a cbb to taks care of aiptsia I used a file fish and an aiptasia zapper! the file fish did good for the most part but the fish dies by getting stuck to a mp10! I have never heard of this before but who knows. The file fish worked pretty good when alive though. The zapper did better because it could kill other stuff that I did not want in the tank as well! I do think that the CBB is a cool fish but if they are known for picking I personally would not take the chance.

Joe Knows Reefs · Oct 12, 2011

I think you'll probably keep getting mixed answers because CBBs are mixed in temperament. I've tried my luck at them twice...not because of aptasia bit because they're gorgeous fish. Both did well eating Mysis for a time and neither one nipped at my clam or corals. But, they both eventually died. They would only eat Mysis shrimp and they're more opportunistic eaters rather than aggresive eaters. If you have other fish that are aggressive feeders you might experience some trouble. As some other people have mentioned you're almost guaranteed to have some friction if there is a yellow tang in there.

In my experience the best solution I've found for aptasia is peppermints. After they're settled in for a week or two you can go without feeding for a few days until you notice the aptasia are gone. It takes them a while to feed on them because they'd rather have a chunk of Rods Reef food instead of a crappy brown nem

Either way, good luck!

droblack · Oct 12, 2011

I've had a CBB for a couple of years now. It is around 5 inches +, and came from a local reefer who had it for a while and who had in turn received it from yet another local reefer. I paid $100, wanting a known aiptasia eater and healthy specimen (it can be difficult finding a good one, lost a nice one years ago and had a few failed attempted replacements since then). Best $100 spent on my reef. Has never nipped a coral to my knowledge, and completely eradicated a tenacious aiptasia epidemic in 2 days. And it's the coolest looking fish in my tank. If you can find an established one or get a guarantee, go for it!

Seasonedreefer · Oct 13, 2011

Well.... I pulled the trigger on getting a CBB. We will see how he does. My larger Tangs really didn't pay any attention to him when I put him in the tank which was pretty odd. Maybe they don't see him as a thread because he is a little smaller. He was picking on pods and other little stuff about an hour after being in the tank which also surprised me. Coral reef the local store here gets some of the healthiest fish I've purchased and they always seem to do well in my tank I hope the CBB ends up being proof of that. Thanks Klaus!