Copper Banded Butterfly

[taimur85]

How long does it usually take these guys to start eating aptasia? Is there anything specifically I should do to help "train" him to start eating this stuff? He seems pretty happy in the tank, and is eating frozen and even a few pellets, but still only nips at random pieces of live rock...unfortunately only the pieces with no aptasia on it. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[rtirado]

Stop feeding pellets and frozen, and he'll start scavenging.

 

[ripped tide]

Lol I am right there with ya. Mine eats like a pig. Doesn't touch aptasia.

 

[taimur85]

Ok, that just doesn't seem practical since I have 4 other fish that need to eat as well. I can try to spot feed the fish and keep the CBB on the other side of the tank or something I guess. Is this really the best way?

 

[ripped tide]

rtirado;732237 wrote: Stop feeding pellets and frozen, and he'll start scavenging.

If you have a copperband that is eating, I would just keep feeding him. This is a tough fish to keep. I wouldn't sacrifice the fish just because you want it to follow up with the tale that people have created for it.

Peppermints are much better aptasia eaters

 

[taimur85]

Yeah, he's a pretty cool fish and is very active in the tank so I'd like to keep him around either way. I have some peppermints in there, but they have only been in there for a week and a half so they haven't really attacked any aptasia yet either. One of these days...someone will take care of that crap. Just hope its not me who has to do it...

 

[ripped tide]

How long have you had that copperband?

 

[taimur85]

Ha, just a week. I take it I'm being far too optimistic in thinking that he's happy and will survive?

 

[ripped tide]

Lol just keep a good feeding schedule. I hear they don't last long even if they are feeding well. I've had mine for ~3weeks. He didn't eat much frozen until a week and a half into it. He has completely come around and is now the most agressive feeder in the tank.

 

[taimur85]

Gotcha, they are fed pretty much just daily around 7, and that seems to be working well. Do you think I should increase the frequency? I'm feeding a mix of brine, mysis, pellets, and some flakes every now and then.

 

[ripped tide]

I would do away with brine. Brine is pretty much just filler. If he is eating the flakes and pellets, awesome! I use the PE mysis. It is high in proteins and contains a lot of fatty acids that help keep your fish healthy.

Some people feed them chopped clam, squid and mussel. I haven't tried those yet. Mine is happy, healthy, and colorful from just eating the mysis, cyclopeeze flakes(yes the flakes), and picking on pods in my tank.