Copperband Butterfly in a reef

jeffroberts1 · 07/07/2009, 07:47 PM

I have aptasia that is out of control and want to add Copperband Butterfly! I have a blue hippo, blue chin trigger, marron clown, desjardini tang and six line wrasse in a 120 gallon LPS reef. I understand that CBB might go at my corals, but I need to rid the reef of aptasia, how will CBB adapt with anilmals and visversa. Is this a good mix?

reidcrandall · 07/07/2009, 08:24 PM

If you get one that is eating frozen or prepared foods, and you keep him well fed, there is a good chance you will be ok.

scooter86 · 07/08/2009, 10:29 AM

Mine has worked out very well. I have had him for about 1.5 years, and he has eliminated Aiptasia from my tank. I have SPS, a torch coral, and 3 chalices. He hasn't touced any of them.

billy1724 · 07/08/2009, 02:57 PM

you could always get some pepermint shrimp for the aptasia instead of gambling on the butterfly, i hear more often than not they die. the pepermint shrimp shredded it up in my tank

snorvich · 07/08/2009, 03:14 PM

Copperbands may or may not eat aiptasia; they also may or may not be reef safe. On the other hand, they may or may not eat.

Gwynhidwy · 07/08/2009, 03:28 PM

I wouldn't even try it with the current fish that you have. CBB's are almost always very shy, passive, and sensitive. The fish you currently have are all much more boisterous and likely to scare a CBB into continual hiding, particularly in a 120G.

snorvich · 07/08/2009, 08:41 PM

And I agree with Gwynhidwy, especially in a relatively small tank for largish fish.

ta_billy · 07/09/2009, 08:15 PM

Rolling the dice with a Copperband. It could work out or not.

I actually bought a half dozen berghia nudibranchs for my 36g reef that was infested with aiptasia. It's now three months later and the little buggers just about have the aiptasia eliminated. Very slow process but no impact to the reef. Food for thought.

If you have the patience, the berghia work well.

My two cents...

kb27973 · 07/10/2009, 07:25 AM

Yep, what they said. It would get harassed in your tank.

Ken

jeffroberts1 · 07/10/2009, 09:51 AM

Do the nudibranches have any effect on other parts of the reef and what else are they good for? plus where can you find them?
Thanks !
I was thinking that the animals I have would be to much for copperband the whole time, they have been in there for almost 4 years and just them.

07/07/2009, 07:47 PM	#1
jeffroberts1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 81	Copperband Butterfly in a reef I have aptasia that is out of control and want to add Copperband Butterfly! I have a blue hippo, blue chin trigger, marron clown, desjardini tang and six line wrasse in a 120 gallon LPS reef. I understand that CBB might go at my corals, but I need to rid the reef of aptasia, how will CBB adapt with anilmals and visversa. Is this a good mix?

07/07/2009, 08:24 PM	#2
reidcrandall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 968	If you get one that is eating frozen or prepared foods, and you keep him well fed, there is a good chance you will be ok. __________________ Reid There is no more red house! Click my name and see my homepage for my 120g Reef w/ custom stand build! Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech In Progress

07/08/2009, 10:29 AM	#3
scooter86 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: LI, NY Posts: 362	Mine has worked out very well. I have had him for about 1.5 years, and he has eliminated Aiptasia from my tank. I have SPS, a torch coral, and 3 chalices. He hasn't touced any of them. __________________ Be nice to the people you meet on the way up, because you are going to meet the same people on the way down. Current Tank Info: 180 reef 155 african

07/08/2009, 02:57 PM	#4
billy1724 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pinellas Park fl Posts: 120	you could always get some pepermint shrimp for the aptasia instead of gambling on the butterfly, i hear more often than not they die. the pepermint shrimp shredded it up in my tank __________________ Billy Current Tank Info: 120 gallon 2X250 Metal Halides 14K Pheonix, T5s, 2 6101's, 50g sump refugium, 150lbs Hatian Live Rock, GEO 614 Ca Reactor, EuroReef 135 in sump Skimmer

07/08/2009, 03:14 PM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Flatlander Posts: 26,106 Blog Entries: 27	Copperbands may or may not eat aiptasia; they also may or may not be reef safe. On the other hand, they may or may not eat. __________________ Warmest regards and best wishes, ~Steve~ It is my policy to not respond to those who ask questions not to learn but to be bellicose. Life is a series of decisions serially executed but collectively judged. "Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony Calfo

07/08/2009, 03:28 PM	#6
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,519	I wouldn't even try it with the current fish that you have. CBB's are almost always very shy, passive, and sensitive. The fish you currently have are all much more boisterous and likely to scare a CBB into continual hiding, particularly in a 120G. __________________ -- He who learns must suffer, and, even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. -- Aeschylus

07/08/2009, 08:41 PM	#7
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Flatlander Posts: 26,106 Blog Entries: 27	And I agree with Gwynhidwy, especially in a relatively small tank for largish fish. __________________ Warmest regards and best wishes, ~Steve~ It is my policy to not respond to those who ask questions not to learn but to be bellicose. Life is a series of decisions serially executed but collectively judged. "Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony Calfo

07/09/2009, 08:15 PM	#8
ta_billy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 82	Rolling the dice with a Copperband. It could work out or not. I actually bought a half dozen berghia nudibranchs for my 36g reef that was infested with aiptasia. It's now three months later and the little buggers just about have the aiptasia eliminated. Very slow process but no impact to the reef. Food for thought. If you have the patience, the berghia work well. My two cents...

07/10/2009, 07:25 AM	#9
kb27973 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Denver, CO. Posts: 722	Yep, what they said. It would get harassed in your tank. Ken __________________ Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the prospect is staggering! - Arthur C. Clarke Current Tank Info: 125G SPS - Regal Angel (3 yrs and going), Pascalus Anthia, Bartletts Anthias, spawning pairs of Six Line Wrasse, Mandarin Gobies, P. Fridmani, Gold Stripe Maroon Clowns

07/10/2009, 09:51 AM	#10
jeffroberts1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 81	Do the nudibranches have any effect on other parts of the reef and what else are they good for? plus where can you find them? Thanks ! I was thinking that the animals I have would be to much for copperband the whole time, they have been in there for almost 4 years and just them.