[EMS503]

I have a 75 Gallon reef with 1 Acropora (just starting to collect),Candycane trumpets,colt coral,mushrooms,Fox coral,fungi plate,etc. also will be adding two clams from Barry this week. Fish are 1 Jewel lyertail Anthias male and 3 females, 2 Percula clowns,4 Redtail firefish.1 Golden head sleeper,1 Sixline wrasse and 1 Royal gramma.
Would a Copperband butterfly work with this setup and leave the corals alone. I heard that they can be placed in a Reef Tank with caution. Was just wondering if anyone has one in a Reef and if it is safe for the corals. Thanks John

[Ninong]

Chelmon rostratus (Copperband Butterflyfish) is usually safe with most corals but they will eat featherdusters and similar worms. Sometimes they nip at anemones but not if there is a clownfish in residence. They absolutely love to eat Aiptasia spp. anemones.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...name=rostratus

[rayjay]

It's a good think it's a good looking fish because I put it in my reef tank to control aptasia, but it never aquired a taste for them, preferring the pods and dusters to the aptasia.

[EMS503]

Thanks I forgot to mention the three feather dusters & the Seabae Anemone in the tank. Guess it will have to wait.

[FISHme]

rayjay, what a bummer hey ?

[Ninong]

I don't think the Copperband will bother the anemone, especially with clownfish in the tank, but you would lose all of the feather dusters in very short order.

There is a solution to the problem of Copperbands that don't want to eat Aiptasia but it's not very practical for most folks. If you stop feeding the tank for a week or two, the Copperband will start eating the Aiptasia.

[xabo]

What about zoo's? Will they pick/eat them?

[Ninong]

There is no way to predict with 100% certainty what any fish will do in a captive reeftank environment but Copperbands are usually not a problem at all except for feather dusters and Aiptasia. They are not risky like Flame Angelfish for example.

[FISHme]

Mine doesn't bother anything except the Aiptasia

[Buzzard]

My CCB is a model reef inhabitant; one of my favorites. He never bothers the zoos, sps or lps. He did however decimate the feather duster population. IMO it's worth it.

[xabo]

Anybody know if there will be aproblem with tangs?

[64Ivy]

I can let you know in a few days since I'm less than a week away from introducing mine (C. Muelleri) into my reef which contains a few tangs, including an 8" Sohal appropriately named Attilla.

[kevinpo]

Zebrasoma sp. will harass it at first but the Copperband is too quick for them. After a few days they mostly leave them alone with just an occasional chase. Be sure the Copperband is eating before introducing it with tangs or other aggressive eaters or it may be difficult to get it to start eating or for it to get enough food. Once acclimated they become very tame (like most butterflyfishes) and will eat from your fingers.

Regards,
Kevin

[SueT]

My copperband has been with me for over 2 years now. It is in my 180g sps/clam tank. I have no feather dusters and only an ocassional aiptasia. My copperband has not developed a taste for them unless it sees me trying to pick them out. Go figure.... Mine also has only once tried to nip at a clam but that was when I tried placing it on the sand bed. As long as the clams are in the rock structure it will swim inbetween them and never bother a single one.

The only other copperband I had about 4.5 years ago was harrassed to death my by purple tang. Too bad the tang made it and the copperband didn't.

Practical Fishkeeping mag's. April 2003-Featured reef system.

[FISHme]

It's funny how people have different experiences with different fish and citters.
Like some folks Copperbands eat the Aiptasia and others don't. Some folks peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia and others don't .
Some folks emeralds eat bubble and some don't .
Sue's Purple and Copperband didn't get along and Mine do .
Just goes to show ya how so many different situations exist in this hobby

[SueT]

Ain't that the truth. Mark. I always think about what your copperband went through in trying to get to you and it's new home. What a great fish to have made it through that. Mine had a rough start in life too, but has turned into my absolute favorite fish. I could care less about what it does/doesn't do. Eat aiptasia, not eat aiptasia, eats feather dusters, has major attitude.

Practical Fishkeeping mag's. April 2003-Featured reef system.

[saltjunkie]

Sum it up....
Fish dont read!
So you have to hope ,and pray and listen to others advice...
my CBB ate only aip. then became a model citizen!