CopperBand Butterfly fish and corals?

I am curious of those that keep Copperband Butterflys in their reef tanks? I have thought about trying it myself but I want to hear from those that have already tried it.

Joe

 

I didn't have mine for long, but it never harmed a thing

 

I've had mine for enough years I forget how long.
It doesn't bother any of my corals, or the sebae anemone, nor any clams.
I started the cb in quarantine for about 2 months, making sure he was feeding well and was in excellent condition before going into the display tank.
I've seen too many cb's placed in the dt right off, or at least, too soon, and they can be too timid initially to compete for food, only to perish.

 

Hit and miss on those. Keep it fed and I don't think you'll have a problem....but you are still taking a chance. Kind of like housing a coral beauty or flame angel.

 

i have never had a problem with mine. just make sure you feed him enough times throughout the day to keep stimulated so his mind is off the corals

 

They are much more prone to nipping on corals than say a flame or coral beauty... Plus with their beak they can get into nooks and crannies angels can't get at. I know a few people in out local club that have kept them in DTs with coral for quite some time but they have so much coral in the tank that the CB has a lot of different pieces to nibble on.

One major problem with CBs is by the time they get to the LFS they are already emaciated and too weak to eat. The main thing is choosing a good one right from the bat, then getting it to eat at your house and compete against the other fish....

I would be ready to play mommy to this fish if you purchase it, and be aware that it will most likely nip at LPS and some SPS pieces.

Good luck!

 

Ooooo... good thread! I was wondering about CB's cuz I wanted one for my reef set-up. Good thing I read. I don't have a hospital tank anymore and I have a powder blue that is REALLY mean. That CB would never of had a chance. Thank you!

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll still think more about it before getting one. Right now im more interested in keeping corals and getting them to grow atm. But i wanted to see others either success or problems

 

Well I have a CB and he doesn't nip at any of my corals. I think your worry should be if he eats. CB are like a 30/70 in like living and it's because they die either of starvation or they just mysteriously die. with them you just gotta wean to eating frozen make sure you don't have aptasia, I think once they eat it they won't want to eat what you give them. In my opinion. Also just feeding them 2 to 3 times a day and trust me once they get used to seeing you, it's like having a dog. Mine eats out of my hand when I feed him.

 

So, it's not an option if you don't have time to feed it 2-3 times per day? I feed my corals every day and my Powder blue and Occ's every other. I take it that the CB wouldn't make it under those conditions? I was mainly going to get it to keep from getting aptasia popping up. I got this coral from LFS and it has this one aptasia that keeps popping up from under the O they used to seat the stalk. I just can't get in there to get him and then I noticed one more pop up accross the tank. I have no luck with peppermints. I put one in and he disappeared, I put 5 in... none in the morning. I put 30 in and I saw 2 the next morning and none the following. I have a HUGE emerald crab that was as tiny as the other 4 but one died so now I only have 3 lillt emeralds and his big butt. The only other thing could be my Arabian/ Neon Goby. He is a M*th@r and is going soon as I swap tanks over. He picks on everything! I lost 4-6 line wrasses to him... I thought it was my powder blue but I know it was him!