Copperband Butterfly

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by naesco

My personal experience is not relavent but my experience on this board along with many others is.
Like most posters post their experience has been dismal.

It is not a matter of extra attention at the beginning. Face the fact that this is a very difficult fish to keep with most dying prematurely.

Sorry, Naesco, but first hand experience is relevant. The internet is full of self proclaimed experts who like to selectively echo what they believe or what they want others to believe.

When I talk here about Copperbands, I relate my direct experience. You should do the same. Understanding the circumstances with a failure or a success is more helpful. Let people draw their own conclusions, instead of just telling them what to think or do.

There are lots of difficult to keep fish, many much more so than Copperbands. But what helps others, is sharing information about the difficulty and how to be successful. Even you admit, that the lack of information at the time led you to do the wrong things when you first tried to keep this fish. Hopefully today, people can make better informed decisions.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Lance

I've had mine 2.5 years. Got it from a fellow Canreefer. It would only eat fresh shellfish at the time but I eventually got it to eat any fresh or frozen meaty foods; it will not touch flakes or pellets. For a special treat I periodically place fresh clam meat in a clear pill box that I drilled 1/4 inch holes in. I place the Selcon-soaked clam in it and drop it into the tank. The other fishes can't get at the food but the CBB can get his long, narrow nose in.
I think I have been successful with mine because the fish may be retarded. It shows absolutely no fear, and will try to steal food from much larger, aggresive fishes, including a 7" Lunare Wrasse and a 6" Tuskfish. It is so stupid it once chased a piece of mysis to the overflow teeth and stood there waiting for it to reappear for a good two minutes. Meanwhile food is swirling all around it which it doesn't even notice as it is so intent in catching that mysis when it comes back out of the overflow.

Your pill box sounds similar to what I did initially with my Copperbands. I too first used chopped up fresh clam, and then gradually introduced other foods. But like yours, mine still won't eat flake or pellet food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQjAZjafxM

And yes, once they lose their fear, they get quite aggressive going after the food. I feed mostly dry floating food, but they are a little clumsy with their long beaks, and often miss, and just suck air. Sometimes food gets knocked up against the top glass or under the euro brace. But my Copperband will still try for it by sticking his long beak right out of the water, and spitting water. It usually works.