Question for Butterflyfish Owners in Reef Tanks

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

One of the fish I have always dreamed of owning when I got a large tank was a butterflyfish - specifically a Copperband or Racoon butterflyfish.
Now that I've got an established 125g tank (w/Trigger Emerald 34 sump), I was considering getting a Copperband. I made the decision that I wanted to turn the 125g tank into a reef tank (currently housing 1 Yellow Tang and 1 male Lyretail Anthias, soon to be adding 2 female lyretails). LiveAquaria and many threads on R2R say "don't even think about buying one" if you want a reef tank. I kind of accepted that I wasn't going to buy a butterflyfish and moved on from the idea.

However, I've seen some people on this forum with some breathtaking reef tanks who have Copperbands in their tanks.
I'm looking to understand what the actual level of risk is (I know, I know, "every fish is different"), and what techniques you used, if any, to have success.

 

[Biff0rz]

They are hard to get eating mysis which is where most of those comments come from. So they are hard to qt, hard to get eating, and sometimes randomly just stop eating. They take a little extra care once established because they need to be fed 2-3x per day, but it's certainly possible.

 

[dennis romano]

Before you buy one, make sure that it is eating at the store. Mine eats brine shrimp and mysis and ignores the corals in my tank.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Cbb is fine, the raccoon not soo much unless don’t want coral anymore. Get a healthy AND verifiable eating cbb, meaning buy it from am actual lfs and watch it eat with your own eyes and not online.

 

[sp1187]

my tank was two years old and literally had thousands of the tiny feather dusters every where when I got my copperband. took it two weeks to eat all I could see. it was eating frozen before it left the store so that was a none issue.
I'm pretty sure the local coral farmer keeps copperbands in most if not all their tanks. pretty good at eating any and all aptacia. my sump is filled with aptacia. none in my DT when I had the copperband.

another butterfly option is the pyramid. plankton eaters so they won't bother your corals.

 

[George81]

My favourite fish is the copper band. I bought one pre quarantined and made sure it was eating. It ate like a champ and still does.
mine pecks at whatever is living in the rocks, eats frozen mysis, spits out frozen brine and any other food.
its a model tank citizen. very docile, non aggressive, it even does a little dance of sorts when i approach the tank to feed.
I have mostly sps, a few lps, some acans and a couple zoa colonies. Doesn’t touch any coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive had mine going on 2 years. It is at least 5" and an eating machine. LRS herbivore diet is its' favorite although it eats mysis, plankton, nori seaweed, spirulina brine and more.
Bothers no coral

 

[footgal]

My LFS keeps a copperband in every coral tank and display they have. Excellent aptasia control. I would be the most worried (after you have it eating) about fleshy LPS like scolys, acans, goni, etc. I’ve heard a few reports specifically about CBBs taking a liking to acans and clams but not too much else

 

[Beau_B]

So far mine just ate the small worm like feeders out of acans (didn’t kill them, but had to re-home). Blastos don’t seem to be enticing... yet.

She eats everything frozen. Looks confused when a pellet floats by.

edit to add: has been through 4 tank transfers... DT had outbreak, copper qt 30 days, 2 weeks in observation tank which blew a seam, moved again to finish 76 day, then back to DT... took it all in stride like it was a fun vacation.

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve kept a copperband in a reef tank on two occasions; neither was problematic with corals. I prefer tangs, and found the two don’t mix well. I keep pyramids and zoster now instead.

 

[Zionas]

Yeah and Pyramids and Zoster are easier.

 

[sensei]

my tank was two years old and literally had thousands of the tiny feather dusters every where when I got my copperband. took it two weeks to eat all I could see. it was eating frozen before it left the store so that was a none issue.
I'm pretty sure the local coral farmer keeps copperbands in most if not all their tanks. pretty good at eating any and all aptacia. my sump is filled with aptacia. none in my DT when I had the copperband.

another butterfly option is the pyramid. plankton eaters so they won't bother your corals.

Does anyone knows if Pyramid BFF eats aptasia??

 

[sp1187]

Does anyone knows if Pyramid BFF eats aptasia??

pretty sure that's a no.

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

I’ve had a CBB for just over 6 months now. Eats everything and anything. I also culture white worms that it devours. I would sometime like to get a maxima clam also but not too sure if it will end up lunch?

 

[Reefacist]

Anyone keep a longnose? I heard they look very similar to copperbands but not as hard to keep

 

[BOWHUNTER4250]

If you have Aptasia then a copperband or Kleins will do the trick BUT you dont want them eating prior to adding to your tank otherwise they most likely wont touch the Aptasia ... just my experience ... i have a Kleins now and he is a total prick that keeps picking at my zoas , sticks , clam and EVERYTHING else it wants ... so words of advise ...... make sure what fish you want first and for what reason as fish can be a real pain in the A** to get out !

 

[BZOFIQ]

This

 

[BZOFIQ]

Few months back I picked up an Auriga Butterfly from Petco non the less. Doing great, wiped aiptasia in that tank from disaster to none, always hangs up front, eats like a pig.

Watch the video above and decide for yourself. The biggest problem I believe is caused by shipping damage to their delicate mouths and whether they readily accept food at or soon after arrival.

 

[Paul B]

I realize many people have problems with this fish and I am not sure why. I have had at least one in my reef since the 70s and so far they have never picked at the corals or hurt anything.
As for them not eating and getting sick, I believe that comes from quarantining which I am totally against but especially for a copperband which are a little more delicate than most fish.
But a healthy, not drugged or quarantined one will eat anything (no dry foods) and they live over 12 years.

 

[Bigdog12b]

Does anyone knows if Pyramid BFF eats aptasia??

I had a pyramid for about 4 years. It did not bother anything in my reef and loved eating aptasia. Sump and overflow was full and not one in the display that I could see. The pyramid I had was great aptasia control.