What to Feed Copperband Butterfly

[lolgranny]

I try and feed mine, but every one I’ve ever had only likes my rocks. Until they die. I think I’m on number 20. The fish is my bane

 

[norfolkgarden]

I try and feed mine, but every one I’ve ever had only likes my rocks. Until they die. I think I’m on number 20. The fish is my bane

Your copperband would need to start out as the largest fish in the tank.

Or in its own seperate 30 gallon tank until it is eating whatever you throw at it.

It happens eventually, but it took 3 weeks of touch and go with 4/5 daily feedings of live black worms, then shaving off tiny slivers of cyclopese, shaving off tiny slivers of mysis, etc.

Eventually you can feed it black worms from your fingertips, but that is maybe 3/4 months down the road.

I waited 5 years before I took a chance on one.

They are not as easy as a dottyback.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Started mine with rock containing aptasia. Once gone, a very small amount of blackworms, then on to seaweed sheets and then Mysis. Tried Rods foods and LRS. Lrs was the ticket. This thing would eat a dog biscuit if I gave it one !!

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I try and feed mine, but every one I’ve ever had only likes my rocks. Until they die. I think I’m on number 20. The fish is my bane

I suggest you be more selective when purchasing a cbb. They are tricky but you should not be 0 for 20.

My thoughts on selection: This is a good fish to get at a LFS. Make sure it eats and eats actual food, not just pecking rocks (Which it should also be doing). Double check that it is actually eating! Closely inspect the fish looking for anything amiss. Especially check the mouth for damage, body for any bruising, grey patches, red sores etc. Pass if you see any of those. Also check body weight and pass if it is at all emaciated or pinched. A Cbb should swim naturally, pecking about the rocks in calm manner.

Don't settle for an imperfect specimen and don't be in a rush to buy one, but be ready when you see the right one.

They are stunning fish I my opinion!

 

[Bow69]

I feed my Copper Band a variety of meaty foods from the sea. I feed all my fish the same.I use Rod's herbivore as a base. I add clam,oyster, Ocean krill & whole fine chopped silverside. I believe the Copper Band is doing well on this diet. I'm about to start a white worm culture. Do You have a CopperBand now?

I have had mine for about 6 weeks. He has wiped out my Aiptesia infestation and is eating Mysis like a champ. I have tried clams, but he won’t touch them. Hopefully he keeps eating and makes it long term.

 

[sil40sx]

Mine eats mysis, brine, clams, and whatever in rods food. Oh, it also nips on acan, trachy, scoly, and favia for snack. LOL

Weird though, because she eats lie a pig, but she doesn't look fat. Definitely not skinny though.

 

[Paul B]

My copperband eating lunch. The paper thin pieces are his favorite and those are clams that I freeze and slice paper thin. I alternate the clams with worms. The rest of the food is LRS which he also loves.

 

[Ted_C]

I had just lost my 2nd copperband after 3 years time. First one was in my quarantine and was eating frozen (after training). A blackout in an effort to kill Dino's disturbed it enough top quit eating. The second one started in my quarantine (1/2 year) and was eating everything (including Nori) after training. Transferred to my main display - lived there for another year. I'm having phosphate issues in my main display and stopped feeding nori. Apparently nori was a large part of it's diet and I hadn't realized it. While the other community fish would pick at the green hair algae - the lack of nori was a killer for the copperband.

The training regime for getting a copperband (or any fish for that matter) to switch diets to frozen food from live food (Courtesy BigZMan):

Getting ready:
1. slow drip acclimation.
2. introduce with lights off into QT tank. do not trouble feeding until the next day when lights turn on.
3. feed every food available to (Including nori) on one dump. (So far blackworms and bloodworms seem to be a winner including a morish idol).
4. carefully watch behavior to see what they pick at (***stop all water movement for 15 minutes to watch).
5. Now that a baseline food was established, vacuum left overs and try again the next day at the same time 1 hour after lights turn on and confirm that is the chosen food again.
6. Repeat for one week
7. Week 2: no longer turn off water movement and let him chase the preferred food around. This can take over 2 weeks or as short as a few days with twice a day feeding. They should be pretty plump and chase their preferred food around before moving proceeding to the next step.
8. Morning Feeding: start to introduce other foods together but this time with your choice of long term foods. Evening Feeding: feed their preferred choice with a bit of your preferred food.
10. Do this part for a short period of time until they start picking at your choice of food (mysid, etc.) on those first feedings.
11. After a week of same schedule and of them picking (and/ or eating) your preferred food, stop feeding their preferred food on the second cycle
12. This is the part that is a pain. Stick to the schedule and do not feed the worms or their preferred even if they continue to pick buy not eat. incorporate enticements like selcon / garlic (if needed).
13. After they are eating your preferred food for a few days I would now incorporate an extra third feeding cycle. make sure they are chasing the preferred food and not leaving much behind. to keep him plump I would re-introduce his preferred as the third feeding in small amounts.

 

[becks]

Easy reefs massticks,

 

[Tom Blevins]

mysis

 

[vetteguy53081]

Also seaweed veggies sheets. they go nuts over this stuff