Butterfly Copperband & Pink Tail Trigger

Checking to see what folks experience and opinions are on this one for a reef tank. I know the Copperbands tend to be less hardy and subject to ich. Any folks experienced with this one and have an opinion?

As far as the Trigger, how likely would there be trouble with inverts and coral? It would be mixed with the usual. Hermits, snails, Cleaner shrimp, Fire shrimp, etc.

Thanks for the input.

 

I have had a pink tail trigger in a mixed reef for about 9 months. All was pretty good until about 2 months ago. She has eaten 2 cleaner shrimp and our snail population is rapidly dwindling. I have seen her eat the shrimp and pick up the snails and bang them against the glass, drop them to the sand and then attack them as they are trying to right themselves. She does NOT eat any coral. I have never seen her even nip at anything, but she is definitely not invert safe. She is about 4" Hermits seem to be safe thought.

I am planning a FOWLR with only hermits for a CUC and she is the first fish going into the tank.

As far as copperbands, I have no experience with them so I can't help you with that one. Most people do not have the same problems that I have had with my trigger.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input. Sounds like its fairly ruff on those shrimp. I'll definitely give it much more thought. Do you have any issues with the rock being moved around? How big is the trigger?

 

I have had 2 copperbands. The first died after a couple weeks and would not eat.:-[ The second one I have had for 3 months now and he eats EVERYTHING (shrimp, snails, aptasia and soft corals). So, while it is nice to not have to use Joe's Juice anymore, I can't have any soft corals and my snails are slowly being eaten!

While this is my favorite fish in my tank, BUYER BEWARE!

 

My trigger is still a juvenile. She is about 4" to 4 1/2". No issues with rock being moved around but I did make sure that she has plenty of caves big enough for her to go into to hide. Triggers will lock or anchor themselves into a cave when they go to sleep so they need enough room to get in and out of.

EDIT: Looked at the trigger and measured again - about 5"

 

Thanks for the input. Any troubles with other fish by chance?

 

What are the usual foods?

 

Nope, no troubles with other fish. She is the sweetheart in the tank. Great personality, first one to greet me when I come up to the tank. Spits water at me if I am working on the tank and tries to bite the plastic cup I use to feed the tank with.

The pink tail trigger is a GREAT fish.....I just can't keep any inverts around her....hermits might stand a chance, but no snails or shrimp.

 

copperband butterflies are notoriously hard to keep alive Re: feeding