CBB feeding

[reefgirl189]

Just curious on methods people have tried on getting their Copperband Butterfly fish to eat. Also what foods will they accept once the pods and feather duster worms run out? Is it possible to buy live copepods anywhere?

I'd love to hear your success stories (and failures are also welcome).

[Reef Pilot]

First foods were fresh chopped clams and frozen PE Mysis. Then I converted them to dry food. I sold one of the ones in the vid, but still have the other one, and all he eats now is dry food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQjAZjafxM

[AaronH]

Mine eats mysis and a couple times a week I will drop a mussel in the tank and my cbb goes crazy

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

First foods were fresh chopped clams and frozen PE Mysis. Then I converted them to dry food. I sold one of the ones in the vid, but still have the other one, and all he eats now is dry food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQjAZjafxM

Wow, that's smart. What a good idea. Where did you find the capsule? I've never seen a black one like that.

EDIT: NM I'm a dumb@ss.. It's a film canister.

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by AaronH

Mine eats mysis and a couple times a week I will drop a mussel in the tank and my cbb goes crazy

Does it have to be live?

[sphelps]

Live clams from the supermarket work well.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by reefgirl189

Wow, that's smart. What a good idea. Where did you find the capsule? I've never seen a black one like that.

Those happen to be glucose strips capsules from a pharmacy, but anything similar will work. CBB's like to poke their beaks into holes. A pill bottle might work. I also used a turkey baster, when I first moved the CBB to my display tank, so I could target feed him before the other fish got the food. He soon learned to fend for himself, and is now as aggressive at feeding time as any of my fish. He does not go hungry.

[Proteus]

Frozen or fresh mussel work well

[daniella3d]

I feed it mostly live white worms enriched with Selcon, which is go crazy for, and PE mysis which he les not like that much but still eat, and once per week I give him a fresh mussel which he also go nuts for.

The very important thing to remember is when you get it at first it is best to quarantine it alone and teach it to eat food. Treat it for flukes and internal parasites with Prazipro, just in case. This quarantine period will get him going on the food and once he'll be in your main tank he'll know what is food and he'll be less shy to eat around other fish.

[Mike-fish]

Mine was timid when he went into the tank and stayed out of sight for awhile and only came out under moonlights. But we could tell he was eating well as aiptaisia where disappearing ( month later still lots left) he wouldn't eat mysis for a week or so and now has attitude especially when it's feeding time I only feed mysis. He will take on my 5" powder blue tang for food.