Aptasia and copperband

[buffalobill]

I bought three peppermints on Saturday and saw one aptasia gone but still many more. I noticed my Coral banded had something in it's mouth what an expensive lunch. Last time I used Joes Juice I burned a couple of Corals so I want to stay away from that. What about copperbands? I have galaxia, hammer, GSP, Leather, Button polyps, Green Tree, Mushrooms and some Zoes can I get one or no? Not sure what they will go after. Please help,
Thanks
Kevin

 

[Amazon]

We've had a CBB for close to three months now. He eats like a pig and doesn't touch any corals. He's always hunting among the live rock, but I've never seen him nip a coral. We have sps, lps, duncans and a clam. So far so good.

Be curious to see what others experiences are. But I hear they are hit or miss with aptasia, too.

 

[buffalobill]

Thanks Amazon.
Do you have hermit crabs and also where did you get your CBB?
What size tank and what other fish do you have.
Thanks
Kevin

 

[JayM]

I had a CBB that was an aiptasia hunter, but it mysteriously died after about 6 months.

I bought another one, and after a little QT time, I introduced it to my 92G tank. My yellow tang chased it around for 3 days, then my purple tang basically killed it. (I just found out about this remotely, since I'm in MD for work this week)

IMO, they are a little delicate, can be finicky eaters, and are hard to keep. They are excellent at eating aiptasia and feather dusters though. Never had any of the 3 touch a coral or invert.

 

[~Flighty~]

They will eat any featherdusters in the tank, but other than that they are generally reef safe. They will chomp the tenticles off of your snails, and sometimes try for the eyes, but the snails learn to duck pretty fast. They are prone to go for the little feathery things around the vent of clams, but in my experience they quit after a few days and don't do much damage.

I personally don't think they do well with tangs and would avoid keeping them together, but thats just my opinion. they definately do better when they are in a tank with no borred agressive fish so they can concentrate on hunting.

Be really picky when buying one. look for alertnes, eating food at the store, and no damagge to the beak.

 

[JohnK]

Yes, be careful in buying a CBB and they don't do well with aggressive tankmates. Even if you do find a healty one they can be VERY hard to get established. Mine didn't take prepared food for a good year, I ended up feeding it fresh cracked little neck clams for an entire year before it started taking brine and mysis (that's about $5 / wk for a year ! )

Also, CBB's can be hit or miss on eating aptasia. Some go right for it, others don't, but sometimes you can train them to eat the aptasia by feeding the aptasia the CBB's favorite food, usually mysis (IIRC this is cindy's idea).

I've never seen my CBB go after an aptasia in my system, but then again my display where the CBB lives has no aptasia. I think the CBB cleaned them out, but I didn't see it.

 

[mkylovr]

I have a CBB in my 185 with 3 tangs. they are all happy fish. had all of them for almost 2 years.

 

[JohnK]

Yes, it is possible to have a CBB with tang(s), but it dosen't necessarily make life any easier for the CBB's (which are delicate and need the easiest life we can offer to them IMO).

My CBB is with a chevron tang now. For it's first 1.25-1.5 yrs with me, it was housed with a powder blue, when the CBB finally started taking mysis, it also took on a a new bosteriousness, it would actually push the PBT around! I'm not kidding, the CBB was boss of the tank then with the PBT, and just as much now with the Chevron (which is a much milder manered tang than the PBT). I think I and the CBB got lucky more than that it was ok to house the CBB with the PBT. Looking back, maybe I wouldn't have had to feed little necks for all that time if the CBB hadn't been intimidated by the PBT for a long time? Also, keeping in mind that all fish sp have variable personality traits, well, I suspect that my CBB was born with the fish equivilent of a Navy Seal type personality. Sort of like that one in a million Deer that charges you instead of running away. It thinks it's a real tough guy, but this is not at all normal for a CBB..

Personally I strongly agree that the active swimming and somewhat intimidating/intrusive styles of all the tangs I've kept, IS a stressor to any gentler fish such as a CBB. Add that to the fact that CBB's can be very deilcate and hard to get established, it's not a good mix IMO.

Awsome fish, but not one to try without some serious planning and willingness to go out of your way to keep happy. (starting this thread is a great step in the right direction..)

 

[buffalobill]

Seeing everyones responses I think it's in my best interest to stay away from the CBB. Right now I have a yellow tang and Hippo in my 90 with a clown fish whose boss. Everyone seems to get along except the clown and a green chrome but thats okay. I think getting this CBB could cause more problems then good. I guess it's time to bring out the Joes Juice and be more careful. Thanks to everyone who replied. I know alot more now about the CBB from all your personal experience. As beginner reefer just don't think I'm ready for a CBB.
Thanks
Kevin