Yellow Tang and Copperband Butterfly

SurfTrack · Feb 18, 2019

I recently ordered a small copper band butterfly to go into my 75g reef tank (I have plans to upgrade later). I already have a yellow tang though and I am worried that he's going to pick on the new copper band. Was it a terrible idea to purchase him? (I am also ready to rehome if this doesn't go well.)

I am trying out a method where you print out a photo of a copper band butterfly and tape it to the side of your tank so your tangs can get used to it. I did this and at first my yellow tang was a bit freaked out but he has returned to his normal behavior.

I am aware of their eating habits and I have prepared the best I can. I have frozen food, flakes, pellets, and have access to live black worms.

RMS18 · Feb 18, 2019

Use an acclimation box. You will find out if the tang has a problem with the CCB. Otherwise you can take the tang out, change the rock work a bit and add him back in after the CCB has settled into the tank. FYI i love my CCB, the best fish i have, most personality, eats from my hand.

Alyxx · Feb 18, 2019

Never tried a CBB with a yellow tang, but I've heard quite a few times that tangs just dont like a CBB sometimes. Is your tang usually harassing new additions? I'd be concerned if he usually does

savetheocean · Feb 18, 2019

savetheocean · Feb 18, 2019

SurfTrack · Feb 18, 2019

Bmwm235i said:
Use an acclimation box. You will find out if the tang has a problem with the CCB. Otherwise you can take the tang out, change the rock work a bit and add him back in after the CCB has settled into the tank. FYI i love my CCB, the best fish i have, most personality, eats from my hand.

What are your experiences with feeding? What do you feed?

SurfTrack · Feb 18, 2019

Alyxx said:
Never tried a CBB with a yellow tang, but I've heard quite a few times that tangs just dont like a CBB sometimes. Is your tang usually harassing new additions? I'd be concerned if he usually does

I have never once seen my yellow tang attack any fish is any way, ever.

RMS18 · Feb 18, 2019

SurfTrack said:
What are your experiences with feeding? What do you feed?

My CCB's story had a rough start. He came in fully covered in Ich from Bluezoo, i didn't think he would make it more than 2 days. He didn't eat for 4 days as i was ramping up copper but once the copper started to kick in he went for some brine. Then we tried mysis, but they were to big. So i bought smaller mysis and he went for that. Then i did clam but learned it needed to be chopped up very small. He ate brine, small mysis and chopped clam for the first month. I tired live black worms but he passed them up until he was in my DT one day and saw my wrasses eating them. After he tried his first live black worm he was hooked. Now 3 months later he will eat anything i put in the tank, and any size. His eye are bigger than his stomach, it's funny to see a piece of clam or scallop hanging out of his mouth the size of a nickel. He even eats Nori with my foxface.

PDR · Feb 18, 2019

I have a CBB and YT together without issue, but the CBB was in the tank first.

RMS18 · Feb 18, 2019

SurfTrack said:
I have never once seen my yellow tang attack any fish is any way, ever.

I believe it's because they have similar body shapes. I can tell you the CCB is a very peaceful fish, i'm not sure how well it would hold up to aggression, especially when added to a new environment.