Might get a Copperband Butterfly

[125mph]

I had a serious aptasia problem, and brought a dozen nudibranch.. Thought I eliminated the problem but suddenly they are showing up again. I think maybe they were in my overflow or something.

It's not too bad yet. I currently have a a purple tang, a melanurus wrasse, pair of clowns potters angel, regal angel, blue regal tang, powdered blue tang, and 7 anthias.

Will any of them bother the copperband? The angels?

 

[saltyhog]

I would think the tangs, especially the purple would be the most likely to be a problem. That said my purple tang ignores my CBB. It should be noted the CBB had been in my tank for over 2 years before the purple was introduced.

Be aware that not all CBB will eat aiptasia (although mine does).

If they are in your overflow, they can be removed pretty easily by draining the overflow if your set up allows and scraping them off. Let it dry out over night and that should take care of them there.

 

[125mph]

I would think the tangs, especially the purple would be the most likely to be a problem. That said my purple tang ignores my CBB. It should be noted the CBB had been in my tank for over 2 years before the purple was introduced.

Be aware that not all CBB will eat aiptasia (although mine does).

If they are in your overflow, they can be removed pretty easily by draining the overflow if your set up allows and scraping them off. Let it dry out over night and that should take care of them there.

Yep I can drain it but they are on my rocks now! I'd have to go with nudibranhs again or a CBB...

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree, purple tangs are very territorial. Hippo or any other tang can be as well. They’re most aggressive to fish similar in shape to tangs and angels, often the timid butterflies like CBB are targets. The issue with CBB is that they can die of stress even if you have big large intimidating fish that swim around quickly, let alone if true aggression is happening.

For aiptasia, I have had better luck with the matted filefish, as they’re very easy to remove if they eat coral or aiptasia are gone— often hanging out by powerheads. Slow moving and somewhat “dumb”, makes them very convenient to catch and remove.

 

[125mph]

I agree, purple tangs are very territorial. Hippo or any other tang can be as well. They’re most aggressive to fish similar in shape to tangs and angels, often the timid butterflies like CBB are targets. The issue with CBB is that they can die of stress even if you have big large intimidating fish that swim around quickly, let alone if true aggression is happening.

For aiptasia, I have had better luck with the matted filefish, as they’re very easy to remove if they eat coral or aiptasia are gone— often hanging out by powerheads. Slow moving and somewhat “dumb”, makes them very convenient to catch and remove.

Never heard about the matted filefish. They have high success rate with aptasia?

 

[4FordFamily]

Never heard about the matted filefish. They have high success rate with aptasia?

IME yes. Majanos, too

 

[BigJohnny]

I have one of each in QT right now lol, multi pronged attack. I always wanted a CBB though. I agree the matted filefish is safer bet if you just want aiptasia control

 

[sanchoy]

Tangs + some angels will go after a CBB due to size and build of fish. Beware, CBB are fragile and if spooked will not feed right away. My CBB did not eat for almost 2 weeks and at first pecked at mysis than went crazy for black worms 3 weeks later. the key is to get it eating, but sometimes it is difficult when tangs and other fish are harassing the CBB at the beginning. My CBB at first would try to defend itself using the top spiky dorsal fin and at times would swim upside down to defend itself. As far as actually defending itself, it is not that good at it vs tangs/angels.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

My cbb just hit the Dt last week and I am surprised how spunky he is. Pushes my very pushy foxface off the food. I guess I got lucky!

 

[125mph]

Well,.. I was just browsing at the fish store and they had a CBB.. Owner told me he doesnt eat off the wtaer column yet and because of that he would give me a discount lol.. I know a few tricks so I thought I would give it a go with the discount.


Well, he's in QT and didnt eat yesterday but already started to eat frozen brineshrimp lol.. We'l see if he makes it. He does a lil head shake which leads me to believe parasite but not sure yet. I'm going to implement TTM. He is very skittish though.

 

[West1]

I'e lost 3 CBB in the past 3 weeks.

Selected a the most active and food interested CBB that was also picking at LR. 1 week later, he died in my qt.
Ordered 2 more, 1 small and 1 med.
This time I took a risk and put the small in the qt and the med in display.
Both eating live bloodworms and frozen mysis within 24hrs of introducing.

1 week later of daily 30-40 water changes and prazipro, the small ones died at random.
1 week after the small one (2 weeks in display) the med dies. This one was eating very very well. I even seen him eat baby brittlestars as I have hundreds in my LR. Christmas day, I woke p to a dead CBB. 100% sure my 1" hosting frostbite clown did not kill him or stress the CBB out. Purple firefish retreats at every movement, no other fish in tank. Tons of pods and CBB would eat them.

Very frustrating...

Just sharing my recent experience with CBB's, might try a yellow longnose butterfly as I read they are far more hardy than CBB's.

GL

 

[BigJohnny]

I'e lost 3 CBB in the past 3 weeks.

Selected a the most active and food interested CBB that was also picking at LR. 1 week later, he died in my qt.
Ordered 2 more, 1 small and 1 med.
This time I took a risk and put the small in the qt and the med in display.
Both eating live bloodworms and frozen mysis within 24hrs of introducing.

1 week later of daily 30-40 water changes and prazipro, the small ones died at random.
1 week after the small one (2 weeks in display) the med dies. This one was eating very very well. I even seen him eat baby brittlestars as I have hundreds in my LR. Christmas day, I woke p to a dead CBB. 100% sure my 1" hosting frostbite clown did not kill him or stress the CBB out. Purple firefish retreats at every movement, no other fish in tank. Tons of pods and CBB would eat them.

Very frustrating...

Just sharing my recent experience with CBB's, might try a yellow longnose butterfly as I read they are far more hardy than CBB's.

GL

Where did you order them from and what country of origin? For example live aquaria sometimes has Australia, singapore, Indonesia. Etc

Any symptoms of disease? What were the conditions of the fish upon arrival, under weight? How was their behaviour besides eating. What did the dead fish look like? Any discoloration etc?

 

[West1]

I got them from Ellis Aquatics in Compton and never asked their origin. No discoloration other than small patches of grey in the white areas of the body. All 3 looked the same. Each CBB was not skinny, no bones showing or visual signs of disease. To be they seemed worth a shot for a fragile fish.

First one was in 1.020 and I acclimated to 1.026 (qt salinity) in an he.

2nd set was received at 1.022 and was about the same acclamation period and in separate tanks.

 

[BigJohnny]

I got them from Ellis Aquatics in Compton and never asked their origin. No discoloration other than small patches of grey in the white areas of the body. All 3 looked the same. Each CBB was not skinny, no bones showing or visual signs of disease. To be they seemed worth a shot for a fragile fish.

First one was in 1.020 and I acclimated to 1.026 (qt salinity) in an he.

2nd set was received at 1.022 and was about the same acclamation period and in separate tanks.

Were these fish shipped? If so 1 hr acclimation could have exposed them to toxic ammonia. Also that much change in salinity in 1hr is far from ideal.

Grey spots not a good sign either. The reason I ask about origin is that some places are more likely to use cyanide to capture the fish, then it's only a matter of time. We're they swimming back and forth a lot?

 

[West1]

Were these fish shipped? If so 1 hr acclimation could have exposed them to toxic ammonia. Also that much change in salinity in 1hr is far from ideal.

Grey spots not a good sign either. The reason I ask about origin is that some places are more likely to use cyanide to capture the fish, then it's only a matter of time. We're they swimming back and forth a lot?

Interesting.

The med size would swim here and there, spent most of their time looking at LV and picking at it.

The small ones in QT would hide and scavenge the back of the LV.

The first CBB was in their tank so I was able to observe their character.
Second set was a special order so I had to pick them up in bags once they arrived from wholesale warehouse. I'l guess these were in bags for 4hrs upon receiving.

With the salinity difference, what would you recommend as an acclamation time frame? I' willing to try them again as I love the looks of them.

 

[BigJohnny]

Interesting.

The med size would swim here and there, spent most of their time looking at LV and picking at it.

The small ones in QT would hide and scavenge the back of the LV.

The first CBB was in their tank so I was able to observe their character.
Second set was a special order so I had to pick them up in bags once they arrived from wholesale warehouse. I'l guess these were in bags for 4hrs upon receiving.

With the salinity difference, what would you recommend as an acclamation time frame? I' willing to try them again as I love the looks of them.

I would recommend setting your qt to the salinity of the water your fish is in or will be shipped in. Then you simply float for temp and release. You may want to try another source as well, just in case. The ammonia issue is only a problem in shipped livestock. You may want to try another source as well, if they are coming from the Phillipines for example, there is a much higher probability they were cyanide caught.

I was told Australia (except may not eat aiptasia) > Singapore > Indonesia > Phillipines

 

[West1]

I would recommend setting your qt to the salinity of the water your fish is in or will be shipped in. Then you simply float for temp and release. You may want to try another source as well, just in case. The ammonia issue is only a problem in shipped livestock. You may want to try another source as well, if they are coming from the Phillipines for example, there is a much higher probability they were cyanide caught.

I was told Australia (except may not eat aiptasia) > Singapore > Indonesia > Phillipines

I never thought about setting salinity to what they come in, great tip.

I just checked their FB and he has the same batch mine came in. They look skinny but they are alive. Now I'm stumped. Now this means I need to pick another up lol.
Thx for the help bud

 

[BigJohnny]

I never thought about setting salinity to what they come in, great tip.

I just checked their FB and he has the same batch mine came in. They look skinny but they are alive. Now I'm stumped. Now this means I need to pick another up lol.
Thx for the help bud

No prob. Then once in qt you can gradually raise salinity over a few weeks (or however long you keep them in there) by evaporation or higher salinity water changes. Reduces stress on incoming fish greatly

 

[West1]

No prob. Then once in qt you can gradually raise salinity over a few weeks (or however long you keep them in there) by evaporation or higher salinity water changes. Reduces stress on incoming fish greatly

Do you think the acclamation was the culprit 3 times, even after they were eating?

 

[BigJohnny]

Do you think the acclamation was the culprit 3 times, even after they were eating?

Not necessarily, but minimizing stress makes a big difference with these fish. These things compound and can push the fish over the edge. Just one way to improve your chances.