Copper banded butterfly thoughts.

[lilrodyreefer]

So I'm thinking of getting a copper butterfly for my 75g reef. I have a sailfin tang two tamotoe clowns and some chromis and a manderin. I have some pest anenomes and herd that these guys will eat them. Has anyone had a copper in there tank? Will they eat prepared foods? Any help would be great. Thanks

 

[FinsUp!]

I have one, and he eats mysis like a pig (although you should never buy one without seeing it eat with your own eyes, because not all will eat), but I also have a feeling he's slowly turning my snails into midnight snacks. Be careful of longer nosed tangs. I have a kole (who was added after the cbb, same size and looks nothing like the cbb), and they did fight a little at first. They're ok now, but you may run into bigger trouble with any species that might look more like a butterfly to the CBB. They also like a lot of LR to pick through, and IME they don't eat a whole lot at once (mine eats a few PE Mysis a day, and possibly a snail for snack at night), so you may have to feed them more often than your other fish.

If your only reason for wanting one is for it to eat aiptasia, I'd say don't get one. I got mine just because I've always loved CBB's. Not all CBB's will eat aiptasia (it's 50/50), and with them being a pretty delicate fish, I think there are better options for fighting off pest nems. Have you tried aiptasia-x, kalk paste?

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

I agree. They are a very delicate fish with a low survival rate. I feel the only justification in buying one is if you really, really want that fish and are able to meet its needs.

 

[lilrodyreefer]

Thanks guys. I do love the it self and have always wanted one. But I think that I should pass on the fish if it has a low survival rate. I have been trying to be responsible in my reef keeping. Thanks for all the help!!

 

[FinsUp!]

If you really love the fish for more than its pest nem eating tendencies, can find one that eats (mine waits at the glass for me to bring him his mysis when I come home), have good water quality, and are a fairly experienced reefkeeper, you could try one. But you could have a potential compatibility issue with the sailfin tang. My cbb and my kole were fine after a day or two of bickering, but in general, you never really know how two fish are going to get along with one another.

The low survival rate is mostly due to the fact that they're more often than not a finicky eater and will starve to death. When I got mine, he had already been in QT, then I put a deposit on him. I had the store keep him for another week and checked up on him a few times to make sure he was still eating and didn't lose condition. He didn't, so I gave him the green light to come home He's been a happy little bugger ever since. They're a fish that you have to be really good about feeding and keeping your tank in good shape, but I think it's very rewarding

 

[ChangNoi]

I have had two CBB's in the past and like the others say, picky eaters. Both of mine died and I thought that I would never get another because I felt very bad about this. I did pick up something like it though. I saw this fish at a LFS and watched him for about an hour. He was very curious and wasn't afraid to come up to the glass and look at me. There was a dead skunk shrimp in the tank and he was eating at it (good sign that he was eating.....not so good that there was dead livestock in the tank). Anyway, I decided to get him. He is a Marginalis Butterfly. Read about them and they are said to be hardier than the CBB.....and very unique...rarely seen in the states. First one I have seen anyway. Here's a pic:

 

[FinsUp!]

Wow that is unique... Looks like a cbb that's missing his middle stripes! Are they a hybrid or their own species?

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jeremy052274]

I think I saw one at Tropic Isle in Framingham a ways back, I also think it was really pricey. But don't quote me on that.

 

[ChangNoi]

Yes, he is his own species.