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Genus Tridacna
By: Kevin Pockell |
Cover Photograph
Chelmon rostratus - Copperbanded Butterflyfish
By: Kevin Pockell
Photo by Mike LaPorte
One of the most exotic looking yet inexpensive and readily available Butterflyfish is the Chelmon rostratus (Copperbanded Butterflyfish). They have a large natural range covering the Indo-west Pacific. Most tank specimens are in the 5-7" range and need a tank of at least 75 gallons with ample liverock, in which they spend most of their time inspecting every nook and cranny with their elongated mouth looking for an easy snack. While they may require special attention in regards to acclimation, diet and water quality their endearing personality makes it well worth the effort. They are fairly well behaved in a reef tank but will usually eat Feather Dusters, and small worms. A few may nip large polyps stony corals or clam mantles. Selecting a healthy specimen and housing it with proper tank mates are two of the most important keys to success with this species.
Photo by Mike LaPorte
Selection
When selecting a specimen look carefully at the mouth and nose for any signs of injury or damage. These delicate areas can be easily injured during capture and shipment and often result in secondary infections or cause the animal not to eat. Make sure the body is full especially in the area just below the dorsal fin. If it is sunken it is a sign of long-term lack of nutrition and few fish recover without special treatment and care (such as housing it its own tank and feeding it 4-5 times a day). When observing the fish it should be on an almost constant hunt of the rocks and/or plants looking for small worms to eat. With the Copperbanded Butterflyfish you will increase your chances of success greatly if it is already eating at the store. I recommend asking to see it eat and note what foods they have been using.
Photo by Gene Schwartz
Feeding
As the size of their mouth would suggest they can only eat very small particles. I have yet to see one pass up small feather dusters that come as hitch hikers on live rock so if you have a prized colony of them a Copperband will make short work of them. A few foods to have on hand to try are mysis shrimp, raw shrimp, live brine shrimp, frozen brine shrimp. Small steamer clams and mussel still in the shell can also be used but be sure to promptly remove uneaten portion as they can quickly decay and pollute your aquarium. Freeze dried plankton presoaked in a little tank water is also a good choice. They often become quite tame and will eat from your fingers. They are not aggressive feeders at first and as such should not be housed with aggressive tank mates. Once they are eating well and settle in to your tank they will come to the surface and beg for food with the rest of their tank mates.
Photo by Gene Schwartz
Compatibility
Unless your tank is very large (180+ gal) or the Copperband is established in the tank first, most Tangs and large Angelfish will not tolerate the addition of a Butterflyfish. Pygmy Angelfishes are more accepting but a well-established individual may chase and harass the newcomer. It will usually ignore most invertebrates such as ornamental shrimp, hermit crabs, and starfish. With the proper selection, housing, and diet this is a long-lived species that has quite the personality and well worth the effort required to meet its special needs.
Kevin Pockell
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