Copper-banded Butterfly & Aptasia

[JavaJones]

I notice 3 aptasia re-appeared in my tank. Unfortunately, my Neon Pseudochromis made short work of the 7 peppermint shrimp that I had introduced to the tank. So I am considering a CBB. I am a little worried that the CBB will nip at my BTAs, tube worms, and clam. Is this apprehension justified in your experience?

Also, I just went to the jellyfish exhibit at the NEAQ. They have 1 tank with the largest number of aptasia/square inch that I have ever seen. It houses some jellies, a massive number of PJ cardinals and several blue-green chromis...and one CBB. After observing it for some time, I got the impression that it just eats part of the aptasia...not the whole thing...leaving me more worried that it could exarcerbate the problem by spreading little bits of aptasia around the tank. COuld this be the case?

 

[wrassefan]

hit or miss with the copperband....I heard a pearlscale or raccooon will to it...but then might go after the the feather dusters and clams.

 

[jacqur]

My experience:

I had a CBB years ago and it was in the tank with a large squamosa and seveal BTAs. It never bothered any of these. I have never had aiptasia but I have a majano problem. My CBB was not interested in the majanoes but ate frozen mysis fine.

I have heard racoons might work but racoons will definitely pick at open brains, blastos, and other flesh LPSs.

 

[AbbeyRoad]

My copperband chowed on aiptasia. He also loved to eat featherdusters. He didn't touch a clam I added years after him. He also lived with MANY BTAs and never touched one. He did also eat those tulip anemones that you see being traded sometimes.

He was a great fish. I was very disappointed when he disappeared one day.

 

[scavdog]

They have 1 tank with the largest number of aptasia/square inch that I have ever seen. It houses some jellies, a massive number of PJ cardinals and several blue-green chromis...and one CBB.

After observing it for some time, I got the impression that it just eats part of the aptasia...not the whole thing...leaving me more worried that it could exarcerbate the problem by spreading little bits of aptasia around the tank. COuld this be the case?

Perhaps the CBBF was a new addition to the NEAQ tank? My observations have shown that butterfly fish clean up aptaisia quite efficiently, with very little leftovers. A fish can only eat so much. My feeling is that the NEAQ could use another fish to cure their epidemic faster. This type of epidemic is unlikely for you if you get your little breakout under control.

I have heard racoons might work but racoons will definitely pick at open brains, blastos, and other flesh LPSs.

I have had a racoon for a couple years now. He was acquired from a fellow BRS member and had been observed as a "good citizen".

This fish kicks butt! Not only has he not picked at my clams, he has also ignored mushrooms and zoos! He has a voracious appetite for Majano Anemones as well as aptasia. This, however, is considered rare behavior. The only LPS in the tank are plate corals and Galaxia. He exhibits no interest what-so-ever. He would eat a blast in a heartbeat though...

 

[Greg Hiller]

>He did also eat those tulip anemones that you see being traded sometimes.<

Interesting....

>After observing it for some time, I got the impression that it just eats part of the aptasia...not the whole thing...leaving me more worried that it could exarcerbate the problem by spreading little bits of aptasia around the tank.<

IME, a copperband is unlikely to ever eradicate completely Aiptasia from a tank. I don't think they are likely to help it spread though. CBB will generally control any Aiptasia they can get to. This means that your tank will appear nearly Aiptasia free, and the Aiptasia will be causing you no problems, but if you remove the CBB they will return. Aiptasia can live even in un-lit sumps. Cindy has mentioned to me that if you ever get a CBB that doesn't eat Aiptasia, just feed some mysis to an Aiptasia in front of the CBB and you will have trained it.

 

[~Flighty~]

A CBB and a couple of pepermints completely eradicated my problem. The CBB eats the big ones and the peps clean up the babies. The feading the large aptasia thing really works.