Should I get this copperband butterfly?

[DrEggroll]

My tank is 3 months old. I have two clowns, a black capped basslet, and a long nosed hawk fish. I drove an hour to go to Preusse pets in Lansing MI a very nice pet store. They have a copperband butterfly that is eating mysis! The fish looks healthy with no blemishes and acting normal. They usually do a 4 week quarantine in the back room and dose most of the fish with copper. They struggled with stress/death dosing copper with the copperband. This fish is currently in a reef with a lot of clowns that the owner has complete confidence the clowns don’t have ick or velvet. I have not dosed copper at home and don’t plan on it in my quarantine tank. The salesperson was very knowledgeable and thought the quarantine and copper potentially would make the fish stop taking mysis. I see little pods in my tank and have been dosing phyto. She mentioned doing a Paraguard dip and drip acclimation with no quarantine.

I was hesitant but will be driving by the area tomorrow. Sounded a little fishie, but I’m also a noob and researching more. I haven’t seen this fish at my 3 LFS but could likely order. It was $70. I took a very crappy video that I was just planning on showing my toddler.

wait for one or take the one eating mysis?

 

[Biff0rz]

Welcome fellow Michigander here - I bought a cbb at a lfs where it was eating mysis and similar qt process. He's doing great!

 

[DrEggroll]

Welcome fellow Michigander here - I bought a cbb at a lfs where it was eating mysis and similar qt process. He's doing great!

Do you think there is any hesitation in only a 3 month old tank

 

[jaganshi066]

Welcome fellow Michigander here - I bought a cbb at a lfs where it was eating mysis and similar qt process. He's doing great!

My tank is 3 months old. I have two clowns, a black capped basslet, and a long nosed hawk fish. I drove an hour to go to Preusse pets in Lansing MI a very nice pet store. They have a copperband butterfly that is eating mysis! The fish looks healthy with no blemishes and acting normal. They usually do a 4 week quarantine in the back room and dose most of the fish with copper. They struggled with stress/death dosing copper with the copperband. This fish is currently in a reef with a lot of clowns that the owner has complete confidence the clowns don’t have ick or velvet. I have not dosed copper at home and don’t plan on it in my quarantine tank. The salesperson was very knowledgeable and thought the quarantine and copper potentially would make the fish stop taking mysis. I see little pods in my tank and have been dosing phyto. She mentioned doing a Paraguard dip and drip acclimation with no quarantine.

I was hesitant but will be driving by the area tomorrow. Sounded a little fishie, but I’m also a noob and researching more. I haven’t seen this fish at my 3 LFS but could likely order. It was $70. I took a very crappy video that I was just planning on showing my toddler.

wait for one or take the one eating mysis?

Is $70 a lot for a copperband? Then again he’s eating mysis and already quarantined!

 

[DrEggroll]

Is $70 a lot for a copperband? Then again he’s eating mysis and already quarantined!

My page of text might have been unclear. It has not been treated with anything and has been in for 5 days

 

[Oldreefer44]

if you search you will find numerous threads on the difficulty of keeping them long term. I would bet money on them being high on the list for mortality rate in the first six months. Also, many would consider an 3 month old tank as not nearly 'seasoned" enough to support one. Just in case this is your first marine tank, I would suggest more time in the hobby before purchasing one. You will, no doubt hear several success stories but IMO, for every one of those there are many with the opposite result.

 

[Biff0rz]

Do you think there is any hesitation in only a 3 month old tank

No, unless your cycle is not done. But I will warn you, keeping this fish is not easy and most perish. I have been lucky so far.

 

[Paul B]

I love copperbands but would not put one in a 3 month old tank.
Sorry

 

[jaganshi066]

if you search you will find numerous threads on the difficulty of keeping them long term. I would bet money on them being high on the list for mortality rate in the first six months. Also, many would consider an 3 month old tank as not nearly 'seasoned" enough to support one. Just in case this is your first marine tank, I would suggest more time in the hobby before purchasing one. You will, no doubt hear several success stories but IMO, for every one of those there are many with the opposite result.

I heard more than 80%, might even be 90% die so I wonder why they even collect them from the oceans. I feel bad for the fish

 

[DrEggroll]

I forgot to respond. Thanks everyone for the information. I didn’t get the fish. Likely won’t get one now but there is still a glimmer down the road

 

[Zionas]

How established of a tank would you say they need? Are any other fish the same when it comes to needing a more aged tank?

 

[DrEggroll]

How established of a tank would you say they need? Are any other fish the same when it comes to needing a more aged tank?

I am not an expert. I don’t know if they need an aged tank in terms of live rock/coralline or if it’s a matter of if you can keep a tank for a year it shows you can keep up on water changes and checking parameters and keeping a stable tank. I am planning on waiting a year before I get a mandarin. I have pods and dose phyto and see a ton of pods but I’m going to wait

 

[Paul B]

How established of a tank would you say they need? Are any other fish the same when it comes to needing a more aged tank?

Yes, many fish need a more aged tank. As a matter of fact, all fish prefer an aged tank but I know we all want the fish we want. I have a copperband and have had them for decades. I have no problem with them but my tank is very old and I feed them what they are supposed to eat like live worms. I also feed them clams. that I buy live. In my tank they can forage and find things all over the tank to eat as that is how they eat in the sea. I have dove with them. A 3 month old tank will have nothing for them and they will not live a few weeks there, even if you feed them correctly. The tank just needs more age and things that the fish can find for itself. A 3 or 4 year old tank is also not old and not compatible for certain fish like a copperband which is much more delicate than say a wrasse.

Copperbands come from muddy, turbid harbors so a pristine tank with stable parameters isn't their main concern. They need something to forage or at least places to look for things as they are very curious.
This is my last copperband, he was 10 years old. He is eating clams and worms, something I think this fish needs to live it's full lifespan. Notice the growth on my rocks.

 

[Zionas]

Thanks for the info. What are some other fish that need a more aged tank, in the same manner as the Copperband?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is $70 a lot for a copperband? Then again he’s eating mysis and already quarantined!

Fair pricing especially for one eating

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the info. What are some other fish that need a more aged tank, in the same manner as the Copperband?

Pyramid butterfly and long nose butterfly

 

[Paul B]

Thanks for the info. What are some other fish that need a more aged tank, in the same manner as the Copperband?

Long nose butterflys, mandarins, moorish Idols, most butterflies and angelfish, some filefish, most pipefish, anthius and a lot more.

Easy fish are most gobies, bleenies, triggerfish, cardinals, wrasses, damsels and a lot more.

 

[Zionas]

I thought Pyramids were planktivores. What makes them really challenging? Would love to know.

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

I won’t buy CB or Anthias. I love CB but they will just die in most tanks. Same with anthias. They just kill each other. People don’t care about that for some reason though.. I dunno. I would love a CB, but the need special care for most people. I feed twice a day... flake and LRS reef frenzy (nori every other day also). If a fish is too finicky for that than they can’t stay. It’s hard because it’s such a beautiful fish. Also, think about future stocking plans. I have wrasses and a filefish and they will simply out-compete the CB I think. Maybe try another unique fish that’s hardier? Best of luck!

 

[Zionas]

From your experience, which angels and butterflies can do well in somewhat newer tanks? What about Tangs and Rabbitfish?