[jeff walker]

I have had my FOWLR 230 l (60g) tank for about a month and a half now since its first cycle. Over that time I have added about 12.5 kilos (27.5 pounds) of live rock, two captive-bred Ocellaris’, three Chromis Greens, and a Sergeant-Major Damselfish who hitchhiked in on a water change. Last week for my birthday my wife bought me a beautiful Copperband Butterfly. I called him Louis the IV. We went away the next day for Easter holidays/vacation and left the feeding to a friend. Unfortunately we didn’t tell him about topping off the sump tank and four days later, when we returned, the pump was pumping mostly air into the main tank. There was still some circulation and all the levels were still perfect. The only thing that would have changed in the water was the dissolved oxygen level. The clowns, chromis’, and the sergeant were all fine.. Louis, however, was listing badly. His left side had about three red-coloured scrapes and his left eye was covered in what looked like a clear scab with a small nipple in the centre. The left eye was also ringed in red. His right side was perfectly fine. We did a 60% water change immediately. Louis fought bravely but didn’t last the night. When I took him to the fish store they said the Sergeant-Major probably attacked him at night. They said the abrasions were marks from the attack and the eye was a disease caused by the stress. I know there are a variety of ‘could be’ reasons, but I’m less inclined to believe this one as the sergeant major is very tiny (about a third the size of Louis) and in fact, is picked on by the chromis’ and the clowns all the time. Has anyone else had any similar experiences? Can anyone offer a second opinion or advice on what may have caused this horrible death?

[weez1959]

I would go with the Sergeant-Major Damselfish also. My theory is that since he couldn't pick on the other fish he would take it out on the meek copperband. Then again, any of the others could have done it also but I lean more towards the SMD.

[jeff walker]

Thanks for your reply. My main concern with blaming the Damsel is that I never saw them interact during the day. It has been suggested that maybe the Clowns did it. I guess I'll never know, but I guess what I'm asking is,
IS it automatic suicide to put peaceful fish in with a sergeant-major damselfish? If in the future I want to try another copperband, should I remove the damsel now, or give him the benefit of the doubt and risk another fish?

[jeff walker]

Beautiful tank by the way.

[weez1959]

Originally Posted by jeff walker

Beautiful tank by the way.

Thanks!

Copperbands should be with peaceful tankmates and damsels are far from peaceful! I had some Blue Devils for a while and they really lived up to thier names, they were real little turds!! Pardon my French Nobody was allowed to move around the tank, there was always a chase going on.
Another thing with copperbands is they should only be introduced to well established tanks with plenty of algae to graze on.
How do I know all this about Copperbands you ask? I learned it the hard way too!
I got one in my early days, and plopped him into my tank of nasties, 2 blue devils, a yellow tang, a dottyback and a maroon clownfish were among my first fish. He never had a chance I saw him cowering in a corner and my coral banded shrimp Maurice was holding one of his fins! Anyways, I netted the poor little guy and brought him back to the LFS but the owner later told me he didn't make it through the night
I since had an anemone disaster wipe out my tank and when I restocked, I tried to stay with peaceful fish only. It really narrows things down but things are quiet on the home front now

[jeff walker]

Thanks for your advice. It's helpful to know what you've experienced... (not helpful for the poor little copperbands though)
Can I ask, what sort of peaceful fish did you restock with?

[weez1959]

Here are some, the rest to follow...

[weez1959]

and the rest.
All of them get along very well, but The Naso will be too big soon and I'll have to find him a new home by the summer.

[Reefland]

With the Damselfish being established, it is going to be difficult to add any new fish without it being picked on by the damsel for a period of time.

[zhenya]

Another thing with copperbands is they should only be introduced to well established tanks with plenty of algae to graze on.

If it helps any, Chelmon rostratus, or the Copperband butterflyfish, do not eat that much algae if any. They feed mostly on small polychaetes(like the feather dusters) and some other zoobenthos and some inverts. Small clams and other bivalves may be fed to them in captivity. The trick is mostly to get them to feed in captivity on prepared foods, once they learn to do that they should be OK.
I would agree that he was probably attacked and then developed secondary infections that ultimately killed him.
Sorry for your loss and here's a link to the description of the species
Chelmon rostratus - Species Summary

PS> Jeff,

[Reefland]

Here's another one for you:
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0905/cover6.php

[jeff walker]

Thanks very much for all your help

[jeff walker]

And the fish photos are great!