Copperband feeding...on the right track?

[Jacklax]

Hello!

I recently got back into the hobby. Purchased a used tank (150 gal) with approx 180 lbs of live rock. Rock was in the tank before the move & submerged while transferred. After allowing weeks for a cycle to take place (there was never a spike...ammonia, trites & trates all reading zero) I added a small clean-up crew...then approx 2000 pods...next were 2 cleaner shrimp over the course of several weeks. After another 3 weeks the first fish were added...a Kole Tang and a Copperband.

Having tried with both in the past I opted to add them 1st knowing there could be challenges...with the Copperband. Started feeding live black worms after mysis were refused with the CB picking at the rocks non-stop. Fed pretty heavy at first to fatten the CB up. After several days it started eating worms that were dead on the rock/sand. Mysis were then reintroduced...& sampling began to take place. After 10 days the CB & Kole are eating mysis and LRS fish frenzy. No more live food. CB does have a gift for shelling the mysis & discarding the shells...with all of the meat gone.

Not trying to borrow trouble...am I on the right path?

Feedback welcome...have been away from the hobby for 6 years.

Thanks!

Jack

[snorvich]

Sounds like you are going in the right direction with your feeding program. It would be desirable to develop a quarantine protocol going forward.

[welcome]

[Jacklax]

Thanks Steve! Quarantine is next on the list. I appreciate the welcome!

Jack

[laga77]

Hello!



No more live food.





Why? If you want to keep your fish healthy, you should keep the worms in their diet. I culture both white and black worms. Chop up some clams or oysters and freeze. Stay away from flake and pellets. Keep experimenting with different frozen foods so you can find out exactly what they will eat and offer a variety. If you add a Tang or Angel in the future then you can feed algae flakes.

[Jacklax]

Thanks Laga!

Currently not leveraging any flake or pellet foods. The LRS Fish Frenzy has frozen clam, scallop, shrimp, perch, whitefish, squid, krill, blackworms, and fish eggs. It seems to be a solid variety and the CB is taking the meatier chunks now.

I also rubberband pieces of algae sheet to a small rock for the Kole on a regular basis. The Kole showed no interest in flakes bit is always in line with the CB when the meaty food arrives as well.