So my copperband has nearly completed his mission of ridding my 125 of all visible aptasias, and now Im worried hes going to starve. I saved some aptasia covered rocks to put in there later, and set up a 10 gal aptasia cuture tank also. He doesnt eat frozen foods (yet) and wants to hide when offered. Hes a little nervous. Ive read about people feeding them supermarket clams or oysters ??? Also so far he has spared the large popoulation of tridacnids living in there, so teaching him to eat clams may not be the best idea??? suggestions ??? Thanks.
Alternative foods for Copperband butterfly ??
- Thread starter ZephNYC
- Start date
Be patient and consistent thats the first advice.. it took me 2 weeks to get mines to eat and now he eats like a pig.. eats clams right out of my hands..! I tried live brine shrimp, copepods and mysis shrimp I also added garlic. I fed him small amounts 2 times a day, feeding between two people so when all the fishes went to one side to eat and the coperband would swim the other way the other person would feed small amounts of food on the other side where the copperband was.
I empty out 1/2 container of copepods on the main display at night so it can go in the rocks and then a little more every night for a couple of days and I notice the copperband picking on the rocks at night.
Hope this helps.. Good Luck!
I empty out 1/2 container of copepods on the main display at night so it can go in the rocks and then a little more every night for a couple of days and I notice the copperband picking on the rocks at night.
Hope this helps.. Good Luck!
- Location
- Virginia originally from New York
Consider giving it mysis or a variety of fresh sea meats; clams, oysters, shrimp, squid, etc.. Dip the seafoods in a multi vitamin designed for marine inhabitants. Look for seafoods that are not dipped in sodium Triphosphates (STPP).
If using raw seafoods soak and clean with RO/DO water then freeze for about 7 days to kill any parasites. You could also look for an already frozen raw seafood mixes. Trader Joes has a very good one that is STPP free. Defrost and rinse in RO/DI water.
A diet of just sea meat with no added nutrients can lead to lockjaw in some fish; triggers and lionfish and starvation in others. Carnivores do eat and need a certain amount of greens and other nutrients in their daily diet.
There's a great article on the net about lockjaw. Do a search for lockjaw in marine fish.
Oh, and use garlic to entice. Garlic Extreme is alright. I make my own puree of garlic and add to foods. My fish love it.
If using raw seafoods soak and clean with RO/DO water then freeze for about 7 days to kill any parasites. You could also look for an already frozen raw seafood mixes. Trader Joes has a very good one that is STPP free. Defrost and rinse in RO/DI water.
A diet of just sea meat with no added nutrients can lead to lockjaw in some fish; triggers and lionfish and starvation in others. Carnivores do eat and need a certain amount of greens and other nutrients in their daily diet.
There's a great article on the net about lockjaw. Do a search for lockjaw in marine fish.
Oh, and use garlic to entice. Garlic Extreme is alright. I make my own puree of garlic and add to foods. My fish love it.
Last edited:
- Location
- New Jersey
Try mega marine by hikari
- Location
- Newburgh, NY
ZEPHNYC,TAKE A SMALL PIECE OF LIVE ROCK AND SMEAR Mysis on it and let it partially dry out. Then place it near where you have seen him grazing. It might take a couple of attempts but it usually works. Then you can just try feeding the tank with it as you would normally do. Good luck with him, Neil.
- Location
- Virginia originally from New York
Mysis, a fresh water invert, is a great treat and good to kick start feedings in difficult fish, but not a good staple for fish. it's high fat. Mysid and cyclops are much better and have more nutrients.
Lots of great ideas here, thanks. I need to further explain that hes been in the big reef for a while now, and has cleared it of almost all visible aptasias, so I need something soon. The main issue is the two blue tangs in the tank that eat anything intended for the copperband. When I disperse any type of frozen food he get nervous and hides, likely from the other fish zooming around. Im liking the blackworm feeder as the small holes will only allow him to get at it. Im also culturing aptasias in a 10 gallon and started a thread to purchase aptasia rocks from other members. Im going to try supermarket clams /garlic/vitamis asap...will let yall know how it works.
Heres some pics....
and the aptasia culture...lol...
Heres some pics....
and the aptasia culture...lol...
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