chance of copper band eating sps

wingman1234 · May 12, 2009

i was thinking of buying a butterfly mainly a copper band to get ride of some Aiptasia i cant get to in the back of the tank. i was wondering would i have to worry about him eating my sps. most of my sps are frags.

Reefinginpasadena · May 12, 2009

Your safe putting him in with an all sps tank.....just dont put any LPS or any softies or they are going to be a snack

xrayrider · May 12, 2009

I have had a copperband for 1 year, in a tank full of sps, lps, a few softies, zoos, mushrooms, and a featherduster. The only problem I have had, is it picking at the feather duster once in a while. Copperbands are generally reef safe, but every fish can vary on this. Just try it, and it will probably be fine, but watch him closely at first. Mine won't eat the frozen foods I feed the rest of the fish, but picks the copapods off of the rocks all day.

wingman1234 · May 12, 2009

ok thanks and would it be better to get a tiny one or a medium size one

subielover · May 12, 2009

From what you have posted about your current stocklist, I wouldn't add any other fish. There are other creatures that you can get to eat aiptasia though.

kfennell · May 14, 2009

CBB's in my and my clubs experience are reef safe except that they will eat clams and feather dusters.

cpage3 · May 19, 2009

He didnt pick on any lps or sps for me, but he did pick on a feather duster

xrayrider · May 19, 2009

I have 3 clams he leaves alone. The feather duster is the only thing he messes with.

Reefinginpasadena · May 19, 2009

?? wow im suprised that a few ppl have posted that they are reef safe.... i work at a store and i get that they arent reef safe all the time. I have had to take some out of tanks because they were eating LPS and softies so maybe you guys are just lucky.
IMO if you dont want the hassle buy 5-6 pep. Shrimp and let them take care of it, but if you want to chance it get a CBB.

chk4tix · May 24, 2009

I have had my CBB for 3 years, hasnt touched any SPS at all. He does nip at my pom-pom. It took me 3 clams before I realized why they were dying. I figured it was crabs or something till I saw the CBB going in for the kill. He doesnt seem to bother anything else.