So, school me on Copperbanded Butterflyfish.

[cr500_af]

I'm am aware of the issues with ones that don't eat prepared foods.
However, I've read that there can be issues with corals and inverts also... but I've seen lots in reef tanks without issues.

My question is, is nipping a very uncommon problem?

I'm considering one (which I'll make sure eats a variety of foods before purchase). I have a mixed reef, a clam and an RBTA. I need to know if trouble is likely, or just not unheard of.

I'm also aware of what won't get along with one (my yellow tang would most likely have to go).

 

[glxtrix]

In my experience, I had 3 copperbands. The first 2 died very quickly due to a yellow tang in the tank. If you have a YT, <u>DO NOT</u> add a CBB....unless the CBB was there before, but still no guarantee. I had no issues with my CBB for a full year once I got one that I knew eat prepared foods from the fish store. Mine actually ate flake food, which is why I bought him. I did raise aptasia in my sump for the CBB so he could have his natural food several times a week. I also had a few fellow reefers bring by rocks with aptasia on it so the CBB could clean them off. I fed lots of food, flake, formula one, mysis, brine and some pellets to which the CBB would eat all of them....though this is no guarantee that another one will....keep in mind that most of their diet in the wild is aptasia. After a year my CBB did discover he liked the taste of clams....not the whole clam, but he did pick off the in siphon tentacles of my large squammy and started to nip at the edge of my gigas. I don't know if he ever nipped at my acans, although I don't think I'd put it past him. Seeing that I liked clams more, the CBB had to leave. Keep in mind, this is my exp with a CBB, they all act different so who is to say that the next one purchased wont be a model citizen. Good luck and enjoy if you decide to get one.

 

[gixxer600]

i Had a CBB in a smaller mixed reef and had no issues what so ever with nipping at anything i have including zoas and palys everyything from softies to sps. i dont have any clams so i cant help you there but mine was perfectly content with mysis and brine. Hope this helps

 

[cr500_af]

I will only buy one that eats a variety, and the YT is gone if I do. My main concern is the clam and anemone (I've read that they can pick on anemones too, though I'm not clear on whether large ones are at risk since their natural diet is aiptasia, which is a type of anemone... perhaps they were referring to small ones like tubes?).

 

[glxtrix]

Mine did not touch the 3 nems I had in my tank. They will eat all feather dusters though. Not sure about large coco worm types, but the small ones, those will all be gone in a matter of hours. As far as your nem goes, I assume you're talking about the rose...I know that was mine from back in the day, and my CBB never touched it.

 

[darren24]

Had a Copperband and he cleaned up most of my aiptasia. He also ate mysis, brine, etc. He did nip at my Acans (I think he thought the feeder tentacles were aiptasia) so he had to go.

 

[johnr2604]

Havn't noticed mine picking at my corals or my clam yet. If he does then its not enough to cause damage. With my clowns laying he dosn't get anywhere near my anemone LOL

 

[flyingarmy]

I had mine for over a year and never nipped at any of my corals. Cleared the aiptasia like it was crack. My Purple Tang chased him every so often but as long as it's a big tank and they have thier established areas, it will be fine. One of the most beautiful reef fish IMHO!

 

[zavala83]

50/50 shot! I want one as well. Good luck. I hope it works out for ya

 

[chefrepo]

Have had one for about 3 months now. No problems with nipping. We feed Rods Foods and he loves it.

 

[dons]

cr500_af;470510 wrote: I'm am aware of the issues with ones that don't eat prepared foods.
However, I've read that there can be issues with corals and inverts also... but I've seen lots in reef tanks without issues.

My question is, is nipping a very uncommon problem?

I'm considering one (which I'll make sure eats a variety of foods before purchase). I have a mixed reef, a clam and an RBTA. I need to know if trouble is likely, or just not unheard of.

I'm also aware of what won't get along with one (my yellow tang would most likely have to go).

I've had one for two years. Introduced one into my tank that had a yellow tang and the war was on. The tang had the CB pinned to the sand. I was so mad I ran out and bought two more yellow tangs. The war changed to TANG HELL. The copper band was saved and the weaker of the three yellow tangs finally died 4 months later. My copper band eats all aptaisia, and mysis etc. Will not eat flake food at all. The two remaining yellow tangs are now buddies and they don't bother the copper band. I added a piece of rock with zenia and small feather dusters a month ago and he went after the miniature feather dusters. Would have eaten them all if I hadn't removed the rock!!!

 

[grouper therapy]

I have had copper bands in my tanks for three years. Never had a problem with any of them. All of them were or are housed with yellow tangs actually two yellow tangs no aggression whatsoever . None of them ever bothered my clams or corals. I never understood trying to get them to eat by placing frozen clams in a empty shell and then remove them because they started picking on the live clams!

 

[son of adam]

I really want to get one. Not sure when though. My clown, an almost 4" Clarkie, is a bulldozer and cant see putting much less than a pit bull in with him. I may need to consider changing that situation before adding anything nice like that.

 

[oil_fan]

I've been seriously thinking about getting one in my 95 gallon tank. They are one of my favorite types of butterfly fish!!