New Addition!!

[canadawest]

Well after allowing Aiptasia to reach plague proportions in my tank over the past 6 months or so, I decided a month or so ago to add a Copperband Butterfly to my reef family.

I did a bunch of research on them while waiting for a local LFS to get some healthy stock in. So I was happy to find Copperbands listed on J&L's "New & Noteworthy" page on Thursday so I went over yesterday and bought a little guy.

Sorry Em, but the name "Cooper" just seems to fit these little guys, so that's what I've named him. (Odd, because I don't generally name my fish).

He's a bit less than 2" in size, and looks very good. I put him in my refugium initally so he could settle in and get used to my water chemistry until it was lights-out in the main tank. Then I transferred him to the main tank. Initally the Yellow Tang wasn't too pleased to see him, but I think it's mostly because "Coop" tried to check out his sleeping area and the Yellow Tang was having none of that. When "Coop" found an empty corner of the tank to hang out in, he stayed there unharrased for most of the rest of the night (at least while I was watching before going to bed). Even my large cleaner shrimp noticed the new addition when he came out to do his nightly rounds and immediately began courting him for a "free cleaning"

Today "Coop" is checking out the entire tank, cleverly evading the occasional advances by the Yellow and Blue Tangs, and generally making himself at home. Unfortunately I haven't seen him touch a single Aiptasia yet, but I'm sure he might take a few days to settle in. I've also read that sometimes smaller Copperbands take longer to take to Aiptasia, but I'm confidant that eventually he will as success rates with Copperbands and Aiptasia seem almost a guarantee.

God knows he's got ALOT to choose from, and should become a very fat little guy over the coming weeks/months.

Anyways, just wanted to share the recent addition to my reef family. If I can get my brother's digital camera, I'll definitely post some photos of the new little guy.

[AJ_77]

Congrats on the CBB, Andrew.

He's a bit less than 2" in size, and looks very good.

That's even smaller than the Original Cooper!

I hope it's not intimidated by the aptasia, especially if they've reached "hooge" dimensions. I'm sure you've read the same comments about smaller ones sometimes not taking on the larger aptasia.

Excellent fish, good luck!

[EmilyB]

Welcome Coop !

Mine won't touch aiptasia.

[psuedo]

they are a cool looking fish, and always a nice addition to a tank. I am hoping that when I get my 115 gallon going, my tang will allow somebody into the tank. He is to damn protective of what he considers his area.
Welcome Coop!!

[sumpfinfishe]

Congrats on your new addition Andrew
If you want I could pop by on Monday the 19th or later in the week with my camera and we could hit "coop" up for a photo shoot and I could also get a peek at the reef too

Also do you have any peppermint shrimp? I had two small aiptasia about a year ago and was really worried, after only one week the new shrimp had a two course meal fit for a king/queen!

cheers, Rich

[Skimmerking]

con grats on the CBB awesomeb\, i like the name fro him.
I'm lookng at gettign one from a store in winnipeg, and he's 4 " big they want 75 for him. I ask him to hold the little guy for a bit until i can get there. Prob will be for awhile due i have to get some money to DAD (A.K.A DOUG LOWEY. ANy way let me know how 's he doing in the tank. ok later

[canadawest]

Hey Rich, yes I'm likely home most of the day tomorrow (19th) so perhaps we can get a photo shoot together?

And yes I've added about 8 peppermint shrimp to the tank over the past two years, including three about two months ago. They just don't seem to last long in my tank, either that or they are just invisible during the day and only come out at night which is likely too. I do have one in my little 12 gal nursery tank, and he's out all the time, but again there is nothing else but hermits and snails in there with him so he's not afraid to cruise around occasionaly during the day.

In any event, yes they do eat the aiptasia, but in my main tank I'd need two dozen of them to even keep up, and some of the aiptasia are so huge that they wouldn't likely touch em anyways. That's where I'm hoping Coop will mow it all down.

And asmo, you should check out J&L's for your Copperband. They have lots of em right now, with a couple 3-4" in size. Definitely much cheaper than $75 (before shipping at least).