Copperband Butterfly

[bif24701]

What store bought food is the best choice for my one year old copperband butterfly fish? He doesn't seem to have grown much over the last year, please help thanks.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[mark54321]

I feed mine spirulina enriched mysis,live blackworms and marine flakes. I feed three times a day. If yours eats well,just try to give him food more often.

[bif24701]

What are black worms?

I feed mine brine or mysis shrimp alternating between the two, but just once. Maybe I should feed more often but I'm afraid of over feeding the tank.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[MrTuskfish]

I feed mine spirulina enriched mysis,live blackworms and marine flakes. I feed three times a day. If yours eats well,just try to give him food more often.

Yeah, I think all fish should be fed 3 times a day if possible. Butterflyfish, especially, are like tangs, they seem to constantly be feeding on small bits. Blackworms are said to be a great way to get a new CBB eating and they seem to love them. I've never fed them though and I doubt they are necessary, a great treat from what I've read. A wide variety of good meaty foods and some veggies, plus vitamins------a normal carnivore diet, should be fine. Bits of grocery store shrimp are really scarfed by most common butterflyfish.

[bif24701]

Ok so I have not been feeding well, that is going to change. In fact I think I'll create my own food.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[bif24701]

Ok so I have not been feeding well, that is going to change. In fact I think I'll create my own food.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[tkeracer619]

Feeding from a mesh bag is a great way to give the butterflys a good chance to get enough food. They just are not competitive enough to get enough if you feed once a day.

Here is a video of feeding my tank roggers from a mesh bag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MxTuxz9Pw4

[snorvich]

Yeah, I think all fish should be fed 3 times a day if possible. Butterflyfish, especially, are like tangs, they seem to constantly be feeding on small bits. Blackworms are said to be a great way to get a new CBB eating and they seem to love them. I've never fed them though and I doubt they are necessary, a great treat from what I've read. A wide variety of good meaty foods and some veggies, plus vitamins------a normal carnivore diet, should be fine. Bits of grocery store shrimp are really scarfed by most common butterflyfish.

I agree with the above. Black worms are a source of HUFA. Also, clams on the half shell are a nice treat.

[snorvich]

Feeding from a mesh bag is a great way to give the butterflys a good chance to get enough food. They just are not competitive enough to get enough if you feed once a day.

Here is a video of feeding my tank roggers from a mesh bag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MxTuxz9Pw4

Yes, Roggers is excellent. Even smells good to humans.

[Rovuma]

Have you tried chopping Manila clams and oysters? Mine eats this.

[bif24701]

No, I have not tried claims. Sounds good.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[bif24701]

Ok, so no Roggers dealers in my area, nor can I find black worms. Fresh sea food is hard to come by in Arizona. What other options? I can find shrimp and scallops


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[tkeracer619]

Roggers will ship direct from the site.

[Dr Colliebreath]

Get a fresh scallop and a shrimp from the grocery store and chop it up, then freeze it in a ziploc bag. The cbb should readily eat small portions of the mix (slice off a couple of pieces and drop in the tank).

[bif24701]

Ok so I found clams on the half shell and PE mysis shrimp, and cyclopeeze. I really like these mysis they are large and the fish live them! I put a clam in and got good response from my copperband however my snails like it even more. With consistent training I'm sure he will get used to feeding on the clam.


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[bif24701]

I still can't find black works. What about blood worms? Are they good food for aquarium reef fish?

And since I'm feeding more should I be rinsing all my food?


5+ Aquariums
Reef, Planted, African Chiclids, soon to be: Discus

[ezerasurfr]

I have a vagabond, a little more hardy and way more aggressive than a CB. But mine has taken to Rod's food very well. I had to try to get him to eat something other than my SPS and this worked like a charm.

[bif24701]

Rods looks great and maybe some day I can get the funds to buy enough for free shipping. However I'm looking for convenience at the moment. Anyone know how nutritional are blood worms?





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[jprime84]

Feeding from a mesh bag is a great way to give the butterflys a good chance to get enough food. They just are not competitive enough to get enough if you feed once a day.

Here is a video of feeding my tank roggers from a mesh bag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MxTuxz9Pw4

Amazing tank,and great idea for feeding. How big is your tank?

Edit: nm I see in your signature. Very jealous

[bif24701]

My CBB loves the clams on a half shell and the PE mysis shrimp are great. Buy them in great big sheets and just break off what I need.





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[bif24701]

My CBB is now fatter than ever! Feeding two clams on the half shell daily and mysis twice-three times daily. She is doing great! Really loves the clams, thank you for the info!





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[bif24701]

My CBB is now fatter than ever! Feeding two clams on the half shell daily and mysis twice-three times daily. She is doing great! Really loves the clams, thank you for the info!





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[Decadence]

I feed my copperband butterfly live black worms 3-4 times daily. He will not take anything else but I have tried everything possible. He loves black worms though and is extremely fat and happy.

[bif24701]

I still have no idea what black worms are. What about blood works





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[shizno]

Black worms are different, CBB's love them but not every LFS will carry them

[bif24701]

None of mine have them, I've looked hard. I should request them then.





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

[Dr Colliebreath]

I still have no idea what black worms are. What about blood works





120 gallon mixed reef, 55, 36, and 10g Planted, 29g African rift lake chiclids..

Blackworms are small, live worms. They are a freshwater worm that you can find at fish stores catering to freshwater fish if your saltwater lfs doesn't carry them.

What is sold as bloodworm in the fish food industry frequently is insect larvae and not a worm. This is no good for your cbb and it probably won't eat them.

True blood worms from a bait store are ok and your cbb might eat them.

Your cbb should like fresh seafood from the grocery store chopped up and frozen. Shrimp, scallop, fish, clam, etc. Buy a small amount, chop it up, freeze, and slice off some small pieces and feed.