The "great Copperband butterfly" controversy

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Well, after debating whether or not to risk getting a copperband, I picked up a nice Australian at Jawz II. (Lou is as expensive as ever, but he has good stuff) Started picking at rocks (no corals) within 5 minutes of being put in the tank.

So far he has not touched anything in the tank, but he also has not gone after any aptasia yet.

What has YOUR experience been with a CBB going after aptasia? I hear it is hit or miss...

-Alfred

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Well, after debating whether or not to risk getting a copperband, I picked up a nice Australian at Jawz II. (Lou is as expensive as ever, but he has good stuff) Started picking at rocks (no corals) within 5 minutes of being put in the tank.

So far he has not touched anything in the tank, but he also has not gone after any aptasia yet.

What has YOUR experience been with a CBB going after aptasia? I hear it is hit or miss...

-Alfred

All mine eat small aptasia and almost immediately upon introduction to the tank but would not touch the big ones. One also eat my scallop's tentacles.

 

[jcurry]

Mine wiped my tank clean of aptasia in about a month. But now it's a very picky eater, only PE mysis nothing else. Not even different brands of mysis.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Mine wiped my tank clean of aptasia in about a month. But now it's a very picky eater, only PE mysis nothing else. Not even different brands of mysis.

should I resell aptasia as food to you-I keep a pest tank??? J/K J/K

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Wingo- How many CBB do you have? (You wrote All mine)

-Alfred

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I have had three, all trade out to other ppl. The one that eats my scallops tentacles is actually not mine but a friend's fish that need me to cure it's illness.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I hope mine eats all of my aptasia. I made the stupid mistake of accepting some halemeda from my fathers tank. Before this I had not had a single aptasia in over 8 years!!! Not to mention bubble algae. Live and learn.

-Alfred

 

[ezee]

Alfredo,

All mine eat small aptasia and almost immediately upon introduction to the tank but would not touch the big ones. One also eat my scallop's tentacles.

My experience is similar to Wingo's. My CBB will take care of all new/small aiptasia (especially if I don't overfeed him) but I had to nuke the larger ones. My tank is aip free now.

My CBB eats all types of mysis, as well as small pieces/chunks of cyclopeeze.

E

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I got a big one, hopefully it will go after some of the larger aptasia...

I can nuke most, but the ones towards the back of the rock work will be next to impossible.

-Alfred

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I got a big one, hopefully it will go after some of the larger aptasia...

I can nuke most, but the ones towards the back of the rock work will be next to impossible.

-Alfred

Mine are big too-palm size
When I really need to take out the big aiptasia. I just slice them and put them in the sump. The residue will be taken out by the CBB.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

There are some I just cant reach unless I pull apart my rock.

-Alfred

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i had tons of manjano in my tank. i bought a 4" CBB from m. stern and since putting him in the tank i have not seen a single manjano or aptasia. i can't really say for sure it was the CBB, but there isn't anything else that i can think of. wait, could it have been the peppermint i had. who knows for sure. if the CBB doesn't work for you, you can always try peppermints. but they are hit or miss as well. btw, the CBB eats frozen mysis and brine.

 

[inkblue]

i donT haVe aptaSia, but he eatS mySis and bRine...

 

[VJ&POOPS]

i had tons of manjano in my tank. i bought a 4" CBB from m. stern and since putting him in the tank i have not seen a single manjano or aptasia. i can't really say for sure it was the CBB, but there isn't anything else that i can think of. wait, could it have been the peppermint i had. who knows for sure. if the CBB doesn't work for you, you can always try peppermints. but they are hit or miss as well. btw, the CBB eats frozen mysis and brine.

I now have him and will be observing what he eats, brine was fed once and soon I'll feed mysis.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

UPDATE on CBB:

It took a couple of weeks, but my copperband started going after the aptasia with a VENGENCE. Right now the only place I can find aptasia is in my overflows, and I cant get to those because of the Durso's.

It has not eaten anything else with the exception of taking a few nips out of my colt coral and maze brain. It was hungry, but now has started to devour mysis and has left everything else alone. Definately one of my stories with a happy ending.

From HUNDREDS of aptasia with half being the size of a quarter to NONE, I have to say, these fish are an amazing control.

-Alfred

 

[aaron23]

excellent glad everything worked out

 

[Hotwheels]

UPDATE on CBB:

It took a couple of weeks, but my copperband started going after the aptasia with a VENGENCE. Right now the only place I can find aptasia is in my overflows, and I cant get to those because of the Durso's.

It has not eaten anything else with the exception of taking a few nips out of my colt coral and maze brain. It was hungry, but now has started to devour mysis and has left everything else alone. Definately one of my stories with a happy ending.

From HUNDREDS of aptasia with half being the size of a quarter to NONE, I have to say, these fish are an amazing control.

-Alfred

Thats really great
CBB are among my favorites

 

[ezee]

Alfredo,

UPDATE on CBB:

It took a couple of weeks, but my copperband started going after the aptasia with a VENGENCE. Right now the only place I can find aptasia is in my overflows, and I cant get to those because of the Durso's.

It has not eaten anything else with the exception of taking a few nips out of my colt coral and maze brain. It was hungry, but now has started to devour mysis and has left everything else alone. Definately one of my stories with a happy ending.

From HUNDREDS of aptasia with half being the size of a quarter to NONE, I have to say, these fish are an amazing control.

-Alfred

Excellent.

Eugene

 

[reefman]

glad to hear.:tongue1: i would like to get 1 too but scare for my clams.

 

[Melt]

i am looking for one....anyone know where i can get a copper band from...