Copperband Butterfly

[AaronH]

Once I was able to get mine to eat I tried mussels and it loves them
Now it let's me pet him when I'm feeding
Has to be one of my fav fish in the tank

[naesco]

The reality is this is an extremely difficult, as pointed out by other posters. but not impossible fish to keep.
It simply dies without any apparent reason just as the OPs did and IMO should not be available in stores for sale.
It should be available to reefers who order them in. That way fish loss will be much much lower for this species.
It follows than that it should not be recommended for dealing with aiptasia problems when there are other critters and methods available that do not sacrifice a fish.

I also agree with the comments that the very few who are presently having success keeping them have an obligation to post their failures with the species to provide reefers with a balanced view.

Seems to me that CBB's are only one species among many that are arguably unsuitable for most keepers, given their track records. Just among the butterfly fish, there are many species one could suggest the same IMO
Why is it this seems to get pointed out when CBB's come up? Because they are more often available than some of the others?

[subman]

I think they are purchased more often. Who doesn't want a stunning fish that also helps control a pest. There are quite a few fish that should be left in the ocean but everyone thinks they know better than the next guy and they can raise it successfully.

[reefwars]

long term with this fish is horrible if someone has had this fish for over 5 yrs id like to hear about it , personally i know only one person who has been able to keep one for over 5yrs. success on this fish isnt based on a year or two its based on the lifespan the fish could have, many perople are able to get the fish to eat, but lose the fish in the first few years for unknown reasons.

[plutoniumJoe]

I've had my CBB for over 2.5years, prior to this one I losst one for no apparent reason. I had read a post by GSP about his 5th one dying after about 6 months and started to feel that this was an un-keepable fish. The big debate at that time was cyanide caught or not. I don't know if there is a way to truly tell but I think it is used to explain why some seemingly healthy fish that are eating die off after a few months.

I stayed away for a while but couldn't resist when I saw what looked like healthy CBBs that had been eating at the LFS for a week. Took one home and fed mysis to the tank at every feeding with garlic and selcon. Eventually he began to get aggressive enough and fast enough to get his fair share. Now I feed mysis 2 out of 3 days and he is fat and healthy. I would also assume that he gets what he needs in pods etc.. when I go on vacation and the tank is left to auto-feeder.

[daniella3d]

Anyone know their livespawn in the wild?

I have mine for near a year and half, and it is my first one. He never touch any aiptasia, so it is not a good fish for controling any pest.

I know someone how kept one for more than 5 years...her first one lived 4 months, second one lived more than 5 years and the last one lived 6 months. Another friend has one for 3 years and half.

Originally Posted by reefwars

long term with this fish is horrible if someone has had this fish for over 5 yrs id like to hear about it , personally i know only one person who has been able to keep one for over 5yrs. success on this fish isnt based on a year or two its based on the lifespan the fish could have, many perople are able to get the fish to eat, but lose the fish in the first few years for unknown reasons.

[Gripenfelter]

There is one in my town that was originally ordered from JL aquatics. He's been in Winnipeg for about a year now and keeps getting passed around to people's tanks to handle feather dusters or aiptasia. Healthy and big. I would recommend a huge tank with lots of rock work for this guy.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

Anyone know their livespawn in the wild?

I have mine for near a year and half, and it is my first one. He never touch any aiptasia, so it is not a good fish for controling any pest.

I know someone how kept one for more than 5 years...her first one lived 4 months, second one lived more than 5 years and the last one lived 6 months. Another friend has one for 3 years and half.

I talked to a person at lfs who said that one of the tanks she maintains has a 8 year old Cbb

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by naesco

The reality is this is an extremely difficult, as pointed out by other posters. but not impossible fish to keep.
It simply dies without any apparent reason just as the OPs did and IMO should not be available in stores for sale.
It should be available to reefers who order them in. That way fish loss will be much much lower for this species.
It follows than that it should not be recommended for dealing with aiptasia problems when there are other critters and methods available that do not sacrifice a fish.

I also agree with the comments that the very few who are presently having success keeping them have an obligation to post their failures with the species to provide reefers with a balanced view.

Naesco, have you ever kept a Copperband? If so, what was your experience?