Copperbands and coral

Cubbies

Cubbies

Active member
I know a copperband is a "with caution" fish for reefs. I'm just wondering for those with experience with them, what would you say the chance of it nipping at coral would be. I would be feeding twice a day. I know they can be difficult to get eating but I would really try and get one that is already eating. I have some Aiptasia I would like to get rid off before it spreads. I know it's not 100% they will eat it but I would like to give one a try. Just would like some opinions
 
My favorite fish and actually the reason I got into reefing. Tried it twice. First time it never took to frozen and died shortly after.

Second one we had healthy and eating everything. Was in the tank for 8 months totally healthy and happy. Woke up one day and he was dead.

I have never tried to keep another. I think they are beautiful fish, but I just don't think we have the knowledge or capability to keep them successfully.

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I've tried keeping one once also, and wasn't successful neither. You'd probably be better off with peppermint shrimps. I bought two, and within 3 days, my few pieces of aptasia was completely gone.
 
I luckily haven't had aptasia, but I did have a CBBF before my tank plague. It was perfectly healthy one day (had been for a few months), then it became lethargic. I put it in the QT, and it was on its side the next morning. Dead within an hour.

They are stunning fish, but they are also amazingly fragile. That is why most don't eat in captivity, and even if they do, they can quickly succumb to disease or mysteriously die overnight...

Good luck with the aptasia though!
 
Just get peppermint shrimps. Copperbands are too much work to keep alive. As long as you don't have a skunk cleaner shrimp, you should be fine with peppermints. My skunk cleaner shrimp kills and eats every peppermint I introduce in the tank.
 
I agree it is a beautiful fish. From my research (because I wanted one too) they are one of those fish that are better left in the ocean. I guess they don't do well in transportation and they have extremely picky eating habits. I opted not to buy one, but, best of luck if you do.
 
Kept my last one for 4-5 years. Loved live blackworms. Now have my new juvie eating them. Hope he starts on aptasia soon!
 
Peppermint shrimp are the best bet for aiptasia. I literally had a couple hundred in my tank before and after adding 3 peppermints all of it was gone within 3 weeks. The only issue I had with the shrimp was a couple of them would pick at my acans.
 
ColaAddict said:
Just get peppermint shrimps. Copperbands are too much work to keep alive. As long as you don't have a skunk cleaner shrimp, you should be fine with peppermints. My skunk cleaner shrimp kills and eats every peppermint I introduce in the tank.
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What is this you say about skunk cleaners? I have had a pair of peppermint, a pair of skunk cleaners and a coral banded shrimp all living peacefully together in my reef tank with no incident of aggression I have ever seen. Sounds like you got a bad shrimp...
 
FishBeard said:
What is this you say about skunk cleaners? I have had a pair of peppermint, a pair of skunk cleaners and a coral banded shrimp all living peacefully together in my reef tank with no incident of aggression I have ever seen. Sounds like you got a bad shrimp...
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His skunk shrimp must of...

:triniti:
 
FishBeard said:
What is this you say about skunk cleaners? I have had a pair of peppermint, a pair of skunk cleaners and a coral banded shrimp all living peacefully together in my reef tank with no incident of aggression I have ever seen. Sounds like you got a bad shrimp...
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lol Sounds like ya gotta hippie commune over there! My skunk also killed my peppermints. It's funny it's meaner than my trigger! Funny how things work.
 
saltymike said:
pick at my acans.
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And that's the reason why I will never add another pep to my system. I actually ended up keeping up one of my older tanks that I was supposed to tear down, put 1 pep and a couple EC and throw rock that needs to be cleaned. They have been doing an awesome job! I guess they gotta eat, huh? I don't feed that tank anything and they just clean off what they need to.
 
Scarlett778 said:
lol Sounds like ya gotta hippie commune over there! My skunk also killed my peppermints. It's funny it's meaner than my trigger! Funny how things work.
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Apparently. 5 shrimp and they all get along, a Sally that doesn't bother anyone, two blennies that don't hate each other... Must be daily dose of Zoloft that I toss in with their food. But seriously, I hope my luck continues!
 
That CB I had died after 5 years & within 2 months, my tank was covered in aptasia. Just got another one. The trick to keeping them alive is live blackworms. That is 75% of what I feed my reef fish, soaked in Selcon & Vita-Chem.
 
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