LF APTASIA eating CopperBand Butterfly Fish

[michaelis88]

looking for one that is already eating Aptasia, mine current one isnt touching so im really looking for the next one.
thanks

[Borderjumper]

Coppers are hit and miss as to what they will eat.. If anything.

What are your plans for your existing CBB if you find a new one? You can not add a new one with your existing fish.. The established will harass the new one to death.

These are a very hard fish to get eating. Mine was already eating mysis when I bought her, but OMG is she slow and picky. I swear if the individual mysis isn't just perfectly formed and to her liking she won't touch it. If she were in a busy tank with agressive eaters she would starve. She does like to pick on a Manila clam.

Oh speaking of feeding fresh clams.. Always break open or freeze the clam first to kill it. I didn't, and came home to one of my filefish's noses stuck in the clam. He wasn't especially impressed to say the least.

[michaelis88]

thanks for the tips man, that last part just made my day. I will serious condiser feeding with clam.

[michaelis88]

That's why I'm looking one that is already eating aptasia

[michaelis88]

bump

[untamed]

Jl must have 30 CBBs in stock today... I have mixed feelings about that.

[htfn]

JL also has a nudibranch or peppermint shrimp. I never succeeded with CBB but always Peppermint Shrimp works.
Maybe buy 2 or 3 shrimps if you don't have an aggressive wrasse.

[vanreefer]

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=115644
I'm watching them eat aptasia right now !!

[Cujo#31]

Man....everyone looks for Aiptasia eaters. The BEST way IMHO is to nuke em with Muriatic acid. It works awesome AND u don't have to worry about introducing a potential coral eater to ur system

[rishu_pepper]

I bought 3 peppermints when I had an aiptasia problem last year. Combined with syringe+lemon juice (for the big ones), it did the job within a month and my rocks are all now aiptasia free. Only one shrimp left now (lost one in the tank move, the other I'm not sure), rarely see it unless I look for it with a flashlight in the rocks.

Not sure how CBB does with aiptasia, from what I've read it's hit/miss, like many other options. My CBB forages and hunts around the tank all the time though.

[KPG007]

Pick up a crosshatch butterfly fish. Much hardier then Copperbands, and they have all gone for aptasia in just a short while. I had one that picked a bit at some SPS, but it didn't take long for him to take to mysis and then the aptasia.

[michaelis88]

thanks for replies guys. I understand the hit and miss with the fish, that's why I'm looking for one that's already eating that helps me with high a success.
I will still consider with peppermint shrimp as I'm not feeding music to my corals anymore so might not need to worry about that too mich

[michaelis88]

bump

[htfn]

Peppermint shrimp are cheaper and low risk. Any fish will eat aiptasia might eat polyps.

[byee]

I had an aptasia outbreak in my old 120g. I tried managing it with Aptasia X with some success but it always came back.

I went out and bought a CBB to eat the aptasia. Once that was all gone, the CBB started eating everything else in my tank. Very disappointing!

Just be careful.

[Restless10101]

You should also be careful with peppermint shrimp. I have 2 of them in my mix reef and they DEVOUR aiptasia. If I put anything in my aquarium with some aiptasia on it, by morning it is gone. The only problem is the little SOB's eat some of my LPS. Torches, and plate coral will also not last in my aquarium long. And feather dusters, they don't even last 30 minutes. It like candy to them. If anyone has a SPS or a softy tank, you can have mine.

[michaelis88]

bump

[michaelis88]

bmp