Tell me about your experience with Copperband Butterflys

[Original Fin]

After 14 months from starting my mixed 55, Aiptasia has found it's way into my display tank on some live rock I've just added. This is one of the reasons I'm interested in a CBB...I keep hearing that they can be an effective way to keep aiptasia under control. I know about all the other methods for removal, and it seems that none of them work for everyone all the time, which is why I'd like to try the natural approach's first. Peppermint shrimp are out of the question because I already have a coral banded shrimp.

At 65 lbs, I've always been a little light in the LR department, hence the additional 15 lb add.

A couple weeks ago, I had an event that started with my frogspawn colony losing 3 large, multi-head branches at the sandbed. Why? I have no idea...but it escalated from there, presumably fueled by the die off. By the next day, two large leathers, a toadstool, and Kenya Tree Coral were all pissed off. The KTC looked especially bad, so I removed it. I had been meaning to get rid of it anyway.
I tested ammonia at 1, and my reaction to that was to prepare enough water to do a 50% water change...I didn't want to make things worse by dumping in a bunch of unseasoned water, so I let it sit for another 24 hours before doing the change, like I always do. (Lesson learned-Always have enough water on hand for emergency changes!) By that time, ammonia was still steady at 1, and the tank was showing continued signs of distress. About half of my zoas and all of my GSP would not come out, and one of my fish would not eat.
The next day, after the change, ammonia was unmeasurable, and everything was back to normal.
The spike had to be from the FS die off...everything else was still accounted for. I was a little surprised the biofilter couldn't keep up, which is why I decided to add more cured rock. I did inspect it before I added it, but within a few hours, at least a half dozen of the little buggers were coming out of the crevices. The other thing adding the rock did was to spark up polyp extension on most of my corals, so I think the tank likes the additional biofiltering, and that's why I'm hesitant to take the new rock back out.

Sorry about the long back story, but I want to hear your experiences with CBB's. I've read enough to know that they are on the margins of being reef safe. If that means they might occasionally harass and eat a couple of my snails and hermits, that's fine, I'm really only worried about it picking at my corals.
I have a mixture of zoos, GSP, shrooms, a large toadstool, acros, cap monties, birdsnests, chalices, favia, Duncs, and a large frogspawn.
For fish, I've got a mated pair of Occelaris clowns that claim the toadstool, a PJ Cardinal, a Bi-Color Angel, and a mandarin dragonette. I'd really like to lose the Bi-color, even though he's the star of the show in terms of color and beauty, but he's proving tricky to catch. Ideally the CBB would take his place, but they may have to live together until I can outsmart the BCA. Is this a dangerous match-up?

[Reefing Madness]

I had one for a couple years without any problem with him. Started him off inmy 125g then moved him to the 240g. Never had him pick at my corals any, then again, I just had Button Polyps, Leathers and such. I don't think you will hav any issues with him pickin at your snails or hermits, I never saw that happen. He did eat and continue to eat the Aiptasia in my tank. I would go through every once in awhile turn over a few rocks just to give him something to pick at, he got accustomed to it and would come over to where I was turning over the rock, he would just start going nuts on it, and I would not even get it set back down before he was on it. I love em myself. But I had a rather high Boo-Boo in my tank and he was one of my casualties.

[Original Fin]

One of the veterans in our club used to run a popular reef shop around these parts.
He is of the opinion that this is a fish that shouldn't even be sold in the trade as it's survival rate in captivity is so low. He mentioned a Klein Butterfly as being a hardier alternative that will still eat Aiptasia....hmmm.


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[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I heard the same about CBB's. I think there were even a couple threads in the fish health forum where the fish didn't even make it through QT.

[Original Fin]

And upon further Googling, it appears the Kleins are known to eat leather corals, and harass LPS, so that's a no go.


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[Reefing Madness]

One of the veterans in our club used to run a popular reef shop around these parts.
He is of the opinion that this is a fish that shouldn't even be sold in the trade as it's survival rate in captivity is so low. He mentioned a Klein Butterfly as being a hardier alternative that will still eat Aiptasia....hmmm.


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What does he consider a dismal survival rate? I had mine for 2 years...?? He ate Aiptasia and Mysis Shrimp. And, I know a few others in town that currently have them in their systems. If your getting one, have the LFS prove that he is indeed eating what they are feeding them, before you buy it. That is the only way to discern if he stands a chance in your system.

[Original Fin]

10 years, and a dozen attempts...only one did well. Plus, he sold dozens to customers, and went through several suppliers...but this is why I want to hear from a bunch of people.


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[Reefing Madness]

10 years, and a dozen attempts...only one did well. Plus, he sold dozens to customers, and went through several suppliers...but this is why I want to hear from a bunch of people.


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Wholly crap, that is quite dismal.

[chrisfont23]

Why not get rid of the CBS and get a Peppermint Shrimp?

[Reefing Madness]

Why not get rid of the CBS and get a Peppermint Shrimp?

My bad. Typos all over the place......CBS are very cool, but good point.

[Original Fin]

I like him too much. He was my first invertabrate and he's so well behaved for a species with a checkered reputation.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway, but must admit the thought has crossed my mind.


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[FoMoCo Master Tech]

If it comes down to it, you could always banish the CBS to the fuge (or upgrade him to a private suite in the fuge, if that sounds better). Not much viewing pleasure for you down there though.