Just sucks how wholesalers and fish stores still get loads of them in, I personally believe fish that can’t survive in captivity shouldn’t be taken from the wild, it’s just unfair
If we could captive breed them it might help with the picky eating.for example captive bred mandarin gobies are way less picky then their wild counterparts and are actually willing to take flakes. Just we need to create more insensitive to breed fish cuase captive breed fish like the captive bred mandarin go by cost more to produce then wild caught.
The problem is in the way these fish are sold. They should triple or even quadrupple the price, but take the time to prepare these fish for captive life. I have had 3 in my tanks over the last 20 years without any losses. I don’t attribute this to luck, rather it was effort from my lfs and my side to properly consider the needs of this fish. Sadly anyone can import and shell them to unsuspecting newbies who saw the fish on instagram or youtube. But this does not mean they should be banned...
The one thing I really like about your channel is that you actually give alternative fish. And when it comes to alternatives regarding the bodyshape, then I think a foxface could work really great too and they even help keeping algae down. In terms of coloration a randall's prawn goby would come to mind
I have one doing great and thriving for over three years now but I will admit the first two I purchased prior to this one died after only a few months. It's definitely a sensetive fish to keep!
I am guilty of making it through multiple rounds of research and still putting one in may tank. Been in there for a few months now. Hoping for the best. He's eating well...So I am hopeful
I own an aquarium maintenance company. A Copperband is a level 10 fish. Like on a scale from 1 to 10. 10 being hardest. But if you can get them past that first few months they can live full lives.
Looks like I’ve been lucky as I’ve had mine more than 3 years and has even survived the dreaded house/tank move. Eats Mysis, brine shrimp and Masstick daily. Must admit I don’t agree with seeing them for sale so often when it’s expected that they don’t survive.
I just got back into reef keeping about a year ago after not having a tank for about 15 years. The old me would not have listened to you. The new me is going to heed your advice. There are many beautiful fish out there that will not needlessly suffer. I definitely agree with you about the difficulty level of fish and starting off with easy fish while you are learning. Great video.
Hey! Sorry about your loss! They are so tricky! I got mine 3 weeks ago and is thriving! Eats frozen daily and even follows me around the tank! Hopefully he will do good! Great video!
Question: barebottom 110gallon tank .. wich fish will seud good ? I got 1 yellow tang - 2 frostbites clowns - 4 banggaii - 1 hypo dori - 1 mandarin .. I looking for some topswimmers but i got a lot of flow
Having one for 2 years. Bought him from an another aquarist who put it on sale once he figured he's not eating anything offered. Initially I fed him live grindal worms (also good for mandarins), but he was skinny and keeping live grindals was a burden. Then switched to frozen bloodworms, one cube per day. He's very active but never gets fat. Good thing he always has his appetite for aptasia.
A lot of fish stores, even fairly reputable ones, will advertise their copperbands as “eat mysis” or as “aiptasia killers” Thank you for helping to raise awareness
I own a Burgessi Butterfly and love him. One was shown at the 3:51 mark here. He eats flakes and pellets and pretty much did from the get go. They only get to be about 5 1/2", but are a great, unusual option for someone who doesn't wants to spend many hundreds of dollars on a mittratus. He has put on more size than any other fish I own. He's never aggressive, but when he's messed with he'll position his dorsal spines towards the offender. Also really like my Yellowhead Butterflyfish. When I first got him he spent 2-3 days hiding and I thought I made a mistake getting him. Now he's always out front, is my most aggressive feeder of both flakes and pellets and is always "begging" for food. I love these two so much that my Asfur Angel who is always harassing them is going bye-bye so they can lead a stress free existence.
After watching this video, I cant tell you how badly I want one now.. LOL.. Very good observation on doing the second stage of research where we are looking for reasons to justify our purchases. Great vid!
I have bought one yesterday with a sailfin tang kinda putting a bit of doubt in my mind now however. Seems to be picking at my live rock a great deal mind. I'm however going to try a pipe with blood worms to try him with.
Love this video! th psychology of a fish keeper haha. I made a similar mistake with a freshwater Ram. I became captivated by Electric Blue Rams despite knowing that they didn't do well in tanks that are not very established. Needless to say mine thrived for all of 3 days before the process of a slow death set in motion. That was a sad week indeed. RIP Little Ram, I enjoyed out short time together and I'm sorry I didn't do better.
I’ve kept one for 4 years but he did die rather suddenly and mysteriously. I paid special attention to spot feed him in a low flow area of the tank. They are very bad at catching food in the water so you have to stand and watch them and make sure they get enough. I feed mine enriched shrimps and rarely a clam, but he had trouble with them. I really miss the fish, he was always happiest to see me and first in line for feedings.
You have to go to a high end LFS that gets them eating be for they sell them. And yeah they are a really hard fish to keep definitely not recommend for people who are new or even for people who may consider themselves experienced. I have found a big trick to keeping finicky fish and tank size has a lot to do with it, along with a massive refugium teeming with microfauna. Most people pay so much attention to the fish it self and it’s difficultly level that they forget about the environment itself that the fish is living in.
Exactly !!! Part of the reason that my Copperband is simply THRIVING and eating / growing like crazy, besides the meaty foods I give him , is the tank set up. TONS of caves and other hiding opportunities. Ample hiding places = low stress. Low stress = good feeding, no diseases, and a happy, fat fish.
My fishshop sold me this fish as first fish ever. After 18 months no problem with him... also no problem with lps or my shell. I do mainly feed frozen food and i did buy this fish already used to eat. Perhaps i had no problem because he was the first fish in my tank. Or perhaps it is, because i do feed "to much" to the fishes. However my fishstore did tell me, that he should be the first fish in the tank and not be added later to other fishes... perhaps that did also help.
hi can i mix ReefX BioNPX NO3 + PO4 and Brightwell Aquatics Reef BioFuel NO3 PO4 Reduction together... then set the doser up at a few ml a day till i get the correct po4 a and No3 levels.. its something i have in my cuboard..thats why... 500ml of each
I have had mine for a couple years now and have had no problem with it. It doesn’t touch coral, eats aptasia, and is an aggressive eater. To get one to eat I suggest frozen clams they love them
I think the attraction to these is that they look quite exotic and are peaceful. Could it be that they are being sold to the hobbyist too soon after arrival and should the wholesaler be acclimating them better? Maybe it's because they are relatively cheap, I know the wholesalers hang on to Gem tangs, which cost somewhat more, for weeks before sale. Is a diet of mysis, which mostly just fall to bits, enough to nourish them enough and success could be had if they would eat prepared foods such as pellets as they are very good quality these days? You are right to highlight this species as a tricky one to establish.
Yes, probably but I suspect the wholesalers want to move them quickly before they die 😔 If you can get them eating pellets, fantastic! But that's a long old road...
One in my local shop has been there for a FEW WEEKS and eats aggressively. When the guy fed him he rushed like a bluegill too hit a bug. He also showed his fins to me aggressively when I was looking. All promising signs besides him being thick with no pinching. He’ll go in a 30 gallon for just 1 week for observation. Then into my 100 gallon started with Florida ocean rock. Got my fingers crossed
had one years ago and kept him for about a year and my tank crashed. Always fed well though if I remember. Never had one since but tempted, this has reminded me why I never got another. Same really with Moorish Idols and Achilles Tangs. Really would love one of each but not rich enough to have a go yet! Maybe when I ever get a huge tank in the future would I have a go.
Mine survived for about a year and loved Masstick. He ate like a pig and then died suddenly and mysteriously overnight. As soon as I put Masstick in, he went crazy.
Bought a copperband 3 weeks ago...my tank was heavily infested with aiptasia now I cannot find a single aiptaisa in my tank but sadly it also ate all my feather-dusters...I treat my copperband with live bloodworms daily 3 times a day and it devours the bloodworms within seconds.
I have aptasia growing in my 100l i also have an unknown coral growning so im lookong for something coral safe to deal with the aptasia? Your vid has convinced me against a copperband
We can get them off the importer here and he says his clients have pretty good success with them - my friend has had his for few months now and it never was an issue... But I think that if you want one it should be one of the first fish in the tank - and you need to have all the food options ready. Plus feel like it probably should be quarantined. If you want it to eat aptasia and it doesn't then put its favorite food on the aptasia. I suspect there are 2 separate reasons these fish struggle early on - 1; Majority aren't eating and have problems with their beak so they are doomed (this wasn't you) - 2: Internal parasites get a smaller % of the ones that eat - The fish is easily stressed and probably gets overcome with disease / stress especially in a busy tank after getting through shipping. Reminds me of Anampses and Leopard wrasses more than butterflies in this way and they have a similar diet / similar issues (and because of their diets are also more likely to have internal parasites). So many butterflies are more sensitive than these guys but aren't reef safe so don't get the bad press even though 98% of them don't make it. I'd like to see more care and expertise on the fish sold by LFS in general but I think they should be sold. There are dozens or hundreds of practices that are more destructive to reefs than taking a few fish for aquariums that don't do well.
Also makes me wonder how they are collected....for anyone who says they don’t use cyanide or deal with those that do, if they’re halfway around the world how do you know what’s being done?!?
Bought mine together with a bunch of other fish via ebay from someone who got rid of his tank. The most funny and thankfull character in my tank. Only problem that he only will eat frozen food, no pallets.
Great job and advice. O for 3 now. Surprisingly 1 month 2 month and 3 months. All were eating in the LFS and one of as even there for over a month. Even tried the paste food that sticks to the glass of the aquarium. Never once observed eating the small amount of aiptasia in the various tanks I have. But the numbers of aiptasia did seem to decline.
I tried a liveaquaria diver’s den pre-quarantined 3” copperband to boost my odds of success. But in my tank the only thing it would eat were pods. Would not touch aptasia, fan worms, can of cyclops, reef feast, sustainable aquatics, blood worms, or blue zoo. Lasted only 6 weeks.
My copperband cleared the aptasia within a week of introducing to my 4x2x2 it’s been in 2 years and no aptasia and he eats frozen food he is very pleasant and I’ve had no problems whatsoever
Possibly - my pyramids showed some interest and butterflies generally can be interested. But I'd say most on this list probably won't. The raccoon butterfly does mind...
I've had mine for four years now, had to get rid of a blue tang and a yellow tang because they attacked him. This fish is a pig, always wants more mysis and brine, It also likes small pieces of whole shrimp. I have never been able to keep a mandarin more than 2 years however, other people have had them many years, I don't know why. Luck?
Snouty the Copper band has been with us for nearly 5 years now. It is not the fish that is the problem but the lack of research and inadequate reef tanks of the people that purchase them. Always ask to see the fish eating before purchasing,
as you always have been you are very right I like your points and, even if I know what you tell me much of the time you still tell me other stuff that help's me know other stuff.
My Copperband has been with me for 6 MONTHS and he’s been eating like a pig. He grew 2 inches, he’s thick and a glorious appearance with shiny bright scales. My thank provides him with an amount of caves and other hiding places that I typically don’t see in other people’s tanks. The tank also naturally grows copepods. My pipefish lives on those, too, in the same tank. If your Copperband is not just a decorative element but the feature creature of your set up ... he’ll thrive. BTW ; he also need foods that contain a mix of krill, squid, clam, oyster, scallop , etc., since in nature they feed on worms and other meaty creatures. ( Herbivore Frenzy is one of those foods by LRS , and also contains different seaweeds and broccoli ) I fully agree with not keeping fish that are impossible to keep healthy and happy... but many of us keep this fish thriving ... and maybe fish stores should be more responsible to explain the commitment it takes to maintain hard-to-keep species and discourage the casual buyer. Buy I would never want to stop someone from keeping a Sohal Tang if he has a 300 gallon tank for him and knows how to properly feed large tangs. I can’t afford keeping a Sohal .... but if you are, I want you to have that freedom.
If anyone wants a Copperband make sure that you see it feeding, this will typically be frozen mysis, if it won't take the food then don't buy the fish. I've had mine 7 years and witnessed it eating frozen mysis at the LFS. Be wary of the Long Nose Butterflyfish as some of them like clams so if you have class in your tank, this fish will be a potential risk to them.
see this is great advice! 100% people listen to this! we need to ban the trade of copperbands, when i used to work in (unamed) LFS i would never order them in these just do not have the captivity life span which is not fair on the animal! keep stuff like this up!
Like many others I tried a CB while i was fairly new to the hobby. Needless to say it only survived a couple weeks :( . A few years down the line i gave it another go. This time I was armed with more knowledge and a larger mature tank. Naively i thought this would make a difference but sadly that wasn't the case. I vowed never to get another and decided they were best left in the ocean. There's nothing worse than watching a beautiful peaceful fish starve itself to death. Anyhow, fast forward three or four years and a fellow local reefer offered me his CB. I was buying a second hand skimmer from him as he was shutting down his tank. The guy had been in the hobby decades and the offer was too good to turn down as i knew he'd had this CB for a few years. The CB came at a cost to me as i had to rehome my prized purple tang due to aggression/bullying. The CB also quickly eat around £100 worth of acans shortly after introducing him to my tank. i then had to move on a trachaphilia he started taking an interest in. The good news he eats pretty much anything but dry food and is the greediest fish in my tank. He'll literally eat from your hand and has no qualms of pushing his tank mates out the way when it comes to feeding time. I've been in the hobby around 8 years now and i've own this CB roughly 2 years. What i would say to anyone thinking about getting a CB is... IMO it is achievable but the chances are stacked against you. I have no doubt my CB has only survived due to the previous keeper who got him accustom to the aquarium life style. I'd also add you should be extremely carefully when selecting a CB. Mine is constantly hunting around the rock work looking for pods, fan worms, etc even after eating a chunk of clam or mussel. I've lost count the number of CBs that i have seen in LFS's which just swim aimlessly about the tank showing little or no interest in food. Finally, if you already have aggressive fish in your tank dont even consider a CB.
I am amazed these fish are considered difficult and expert only. I have one in every tank for the invaluable ability to decimate aptasia. I have not had the slightest issue with any of them. All are over two years old and eat like crazy. I put all my fish through the tank transfer method with two days in formalin if it matters.
I feel like this is me and ritteri nems. I haven't even gotten my tank yet and I have successfully convinced myself that this 'expert only' nem is going to be okay in my future reeftank. Despite the warnings, you convince yourself that with enough planning, enough luck, it will work for you. The second stage is real! P.S mate I don't know if you realise this, but the next recommended video on this playlist is, a few months later, you making a video about having bought another copper banded butterfly XD Amazing and goodluck.
Agreed, if you can't keep.one for more than a few months. However plenty of us know how to choose and feed one. If you don't either learn or as you say leave them alone.
You have to feed them. I've had one for over 4 months and hes fat and healthy. Food processor a mix of clam mussels and squid and feed along with brine and mysis. You have to offer them food multiple times throughout the day even after they are accepting food. They havent had healthy meals since they were in the ocean so immune system is low. Feed so much you have to do weekly water changes for a month until your fish have rebounded.
As hobbyist we should NOT want to buy something that we know has little chance of surviving, only then will the suppliers may start to think twice about stocking these beautiful creatures in the first place if no one is buying them, as always, a great video Alex 👍👍
Im gonna get one but im not getting one until my 180gallon gets switched over...this is just my opinion but any fish around a copper bands adult size just needs at least 6ft/2ft/2ft minimal...i mean ya can make a 75gallon work but ask yourself how big would you want your own fallout shelter to be beacuse you will live out your days there...but hey thats just me some folk just could care less but i will say if your watching videos like this you love your tank and wants whats best...cheers man hope you have a great weekend ahead alex :)
When I first started in the Marine hobby I got a copper band frozen food did really well for about 10 weeks then it's fine upside down and died love the fish but leave them alone in the ocean got myself a coral beauty angelfish had it over a year now now not once has it ever gone there a coral far better than a flame angel good video mate
@@ReefDork Thank you! I am getting ready to purchase my first fish set after my clowns…. And doing everything you said to do in your what to get and what not to get….. although I might cave on a blue tang eventually lol
I saw several warning videos like this when I got to stage two. Chose to DELIBERATELY IGNORE the warnings. Found TWO fat ones at a local shop and they were eating like pigs! My joy lasted about a month, then the GRIM REAPER CAME KNOCKING. 😩🥺😰
Touch wood as they say I’ve had one now for just over 5 weeks he’s eating like a pig !! Even eats out my hand he’s growing to he’s thick bodied and swimming strong constantly wanting to eat he’s feed twice a day.. I think one of the secret of keeping a copper band is also the tank mates he’s in with, I got rid of my yellow tang and two Anthias there’s only 6 fish in my 90g which allows him to feed at his pace so they don’t have to starve or get out competed for the food ! Nice video tho.. best wishes Dave.
They should be banned from exporting in. It's cruel. I also laughed when you said clam in a half shell. Took me straight back to my child hood in the 90s. Love your advice and @BRSTV. I've been out of the hobby for a while and just moved to Aus from sunny England. Give a year, two years to settle and then I'll set one up.
Love the look of these guys and would live one in my tank. I have given them two attempts and will not try again...poor guys. 1st didnt eat and died after a few days 2nd lasted nearly a year, destroyed my aptasia problem, the one day I fiddled with my rock scape... then he decided to stop eating and died :( leave them be.
Well done 👍 Just wondered and it could just be me. But when your giving loads of info (not pertaining to this video) could you speak just a little slower. I love your videos and you give us great content. Keep it up looking good!!!
Picky eaters = slow eater in my experience. Some fish just like to look at the food for a few sec before eating. If you have alot of fish they don.t have time to eat it before some other fish get it and they starve. I had a copperband for a few years and a mandarin in a nano for 5years.
I guess I just got lucky but I got a Copperband about 6mths ago and once I found a food he likes .....BOOM! He’s doing fine and the best thing is I now have absolutely no aiptasia in the Tank! Maybe just luck for me but I’m glad I have it for sure.
Think an aiptasia eating filefish is better? Watch this first... th-cam.com/video/8C45uIKBiWo/w-d-xo.html
Just sucks how wholesalers and fish stores still get loads of them in, I personally believe fish that can’t survive in captivity shouldn’t be taken from the wild, it’s just unfair
If we could captive breed them it might help with the picky eating.for example captive bred mandarin gobies are way less picky then their wild counterparts and are actually willing to take flakes.
Just we need to create more insensitive to breed fish cuase captive breed fish like the captive bred mandarin go by cost more to produce then wild caught.
The problem is in the way these fish are sold. They should triple or even quadrupple the price, but take the time to prepare these fish for captive life. I have had 3 in my tanks over the last 20 years without any losses. I don’t attribute this to luck, rather it was effort from my lfs and my side to properly consider the needs of this fish. Sadly anyone can import and shell them to unsuspecting newbies who saw the fish on instagram or youtube. But this does not mean they should be banned...
I’ve had mine for just about a year. No issues at all.
Nice.
The one thing I really like about your channel is that you actually give alternative fish.
And when it comes to alternatives regarding the bodyshape, then I think a foxface could work really great too and they even help keeping algae down. In terms of coloration a randall's prawn goby would come to mind
Good shout 👍
I have one doing great and thriving for over three years now but I will admit the first two I purchased prior to this one died after only a few months. It's definitely a sensetive fish to keep!
I am guilty of making it through multiple rounds of research and still putting one in may tank. Been in there for a few months now. Hoping for the best.
He's eating well...So I am hopeful
If you researched you likely could keep it alive.
Hope he’s still going well I’m getting one myself have done the research etc 4th year in the hobby looking forward to it
I own an aquarium maintenance company. A Copperband is a level 10 fish. Like on a scale from 1 to 10. 10 being hardest. But if you can get them past that first few months they can live full lives.
Looks like I’ve been lucky as I’ve had mine more than 3 years and has even survived the dreaded house/tank move. Eats Mysis, brine shrimp and Masstick daily. Must admit I don’t agree with seeing them for sale so often when it’s expected that they don’t survive.
A lot of fish are oversold but difficult to keep. If you get a healthy specimen these butterflies are doable though to my knowledge.
@@zafishguy5166 most of my research has turned up with "if you can get them to eat regularly, you're good and they're pretty hardy"
I just got back into reef keeping about a year ago after not having a tank for about 15 years. The old me would not have listened to you. The new me is going to heed your advice. There are many beautiful fish out there that will not needlessly suffer. I definitely agree with you about the difficulty level of fish and starting off with easy fish while you are learning. Great video.
Great timing posting this video. I'm that stage 2 guy right now.
Hey! Sorry about your loss! They are so tricky! I got mine 3 weeks ago and is thriving! Eats frozen daily and even follows me around the tank! Hopefully he will do good! Great video!
When did you start this channel? How did i just only find it? I just found it last week and im hooked to it. One of my top reefing channels now.
Thanks man, appreciate it. Been doing it properly since Jan 2019.
Question: barebottom 110gallon tank .. wich fish will seud good ?
I got 1 yellow tang - 2 frostbites clowns - 4 banggaii - 1 hypo dori - 1 mandarin .. I looking for some topswimmers but i got a lot of flow
How about fairy wrasse? They don't need a sand bed to sleep in.
@@ReefDork thanks m8 for the quick reply (and help)
Having one for 2 years. Bought him from an another aquarist who put it on sale once he figured he's not eating anything offered.
Initially I fed him live grindal worms (also good for mandarins), but he was skinny and keeping live grindals was a burden.
Then switched to frozen bloodworms, one cube per day. He's very active but never gets fat. Good thing he always has his appetite for aptasia.
A lot of fish stores, even fairly reputable ones, will advertise their copperbands as “eat mysis” or as “aiptasia killers” Thank you for helping to raise awareness
I own a Burgessi Butterfly and love him. One was shown at the 3:51 mark here. He eats flakes and pellets and pretty much did from the get go. They only get to be about 5 1/2", but are a great, unusual option for someone who doesn't wants to spend many hundreds of dollars on a mittratus. He has put on more size than any other fish I own. He's never aggressive, but when he's messed with he'll position his dorsal spines towards the offender. Also really like my Yellowhead Butterflyfish. When I first got him he spent 2-3 days hiding and I thought I made a mistake getting him. Now he's always out front, is my most aggressive feeder of both flakes and pellets and is always "begging" for food. I love these two so much that my Asfur Angel who is always harassing them is going bye-bye so they can lead a stress free existence.
After watching this video, I cant tell you how badly I want one now.. LOL.. Very good observation on doing the second stage of research where we are looking for reasons to justify our purchases. Great vid!
I have bought one yesterday with a sailfin tang kinda putting a bit of doubt in my mind now however. Seems to be picking at my live rock a great deal mind. I'm however going to try a pipe with blood worms to try him with.
The heniochus butterfly is a fantastic alternative IMO. They’re easy to keep in captivity and those fins are so elegant
I need something to eat apteisa what do you recommend I have tried peppermint shrimp file fish nudibranks without success
Love this video! th psychology of a fish keeper haha. I made a similar mistake with a freshwater Ram. I became captivated by Electric Blue Rams despite knowing that they didn't do well in tanks that are not very established. Needless to say mine thrived for all of 3 days before the process of a slow death set in motion. That was a sad week indeed. RIP Little Ram, I enjoyed out short time together and I'm sorry I didn't do better.
ive seen a lined butterfly in a 300g reef but i dont know if it was just him cause no one says they are reef safe
Great advice. So many times hobbyists buy fish that just simply don’t do well in captivity.
I've always said for many years copperbands should be banned and left to live in the ocean like any animal that doesn't do well in captivity 🙁
Yep, you described exactly what I did! Won’t do it again. I keep well clear of anything including corals with a poor survival rate, Subscribed 👍
I’ve kept one for 4 years but he did die rather suddenly and mysteriously. I paid special attention to spot feed him in a low flow area of the tank. They are very bad at catching food in the water so you have to stand and watch them and make sure they get enough. I feed mine enriched shrimps and rarely a clam, but he had trouble with them. I really miss the fish, he was always happiest to see me and first in line for feedings.
You have to go to a high end LFS that gets them eating be for they sell them. And yeah they are a really hard fish to keep definitely not recommend for people who are new or even for people who may consider themselves experienced.
I have found a big trick to keeping finicky fish and tank size has a lot to do with it, along with a massive refugium teeming with microfauna. Most people pay so much attention to the fish it self and it’s difficultly level that they forget about the environment itself that the fish is living in.
Exactly !!! Part of the reason that my Copperband is simply THRIVING and eating / growing like crazy, besides the meaty foods I give him , is the tank set up. TONS of caves and other hiding opportunities. Ample hiding places = low stress. Low stress = good feeding, no diseases, and a happy, fat fish.
Would a Chelmon Marginalis/Margined Angelfish be a good alternative.
My fishshop sold me this fish as first fish ever. After 18 months no problem with him... also no problem with lps or my shell.
I do mainly feed frozen food and i did buy this fish already used to eat. Perhaps i had no problem because he was the first fish in my tank. Or perhaps it is, because i do feed "to much" to the fishes.
However my fishstore did tell me, that he should be the first fish in the tank and not be added later to other fishes... perhaps that did also help.
hi can i mix ReefX BioNPX NO3 + PO4 and Brightwell Aquatics Reef BioFuel NO3 PO4 Reduction together... then set the doser up at a few ml a day till i get the correct po4 a and No3 levels.. its something i have in my cuboard..thats why... 500ml of each
Never used them i'm afraid
I have had mine for a couple years now and have had no problem with it. It doesn’t touch coral, eats aptasia, and is an aggressive eater. To get one to eat I suggest frozen clams they love them
I think the attraction to these is that they look quite exotic and are peaceful. Could it be that they are being sold to the hobbyist too soon after arrival and should the wholesaler be acclimating them better? Maybe it's because they are relatively cheap, I know the wholesalers hang on to Gem tangs, which cost somewhat more, for weeks before sale. Is a diet of mysis, which mostly just fall to bits, enough to nourish them enough and success could be had if they would eat prepared foods such as pellets as they are very good quality these days? You are right to highlight this species as a tricky one to establish.
Yes, probably but I suspect the wholesalers want to move them quickly before they die 😔
If you can get them eating pellets, fantastic! But that's a long old road...
One in my local shop has been there for a FEW WEEKS and eats aggressively. When the guy fed him he rushed like a bluegill too hit a bug. He also showed his fins to me aggressively when I was looking. All promising signs besides him being thick with no pinching. He’ll go in a 30 gallon for just 1 week for observation. Then into my 100 gallon started with Florida ocean rock. Got my fingers crossed
had one years ago and kept him for about a year and my tank crashed. Always fed well though if I remember. Never had one since but tempted, this has reminded me why I never got another. Same really with Moorish Idols and Achilles Tangs. Really would love one of each but not rich enough to have a go yet! Maybe when I ever get a huge tank in the future would I have a go.
Mine survived for about a year and loved Masstick. He ate like a pig and then died suddenly and mysteriously overnight. As soon as I put Masstick in, he went crazy.
How many times a day did you feed and did the copperband get enough time to get food them?
Bought a copperband 3 weeks ago...my tank was heavily infested with aiptasia now I cannot find a single aiptaisa in my tank but sadly it also ate all my feather-dusters...I treat my copperband with live bloodworms daily 3 times a day and it devours the bloodworms within seconds.
I have aptasia growing in my 100l i also have an unknown coral growning so im lookong for something coral safe to deal with the aptasia? Your vid has convinced me against a copperband
We can get them off the importer here and he says his clients have pretty good success with them - my friend has had his for few months now and it never was an issue...
But I think that if you want one it should be one of the first fish in the tank - and you need to have all the food options ready. Plus feel like it probably should be quarantined.
If you want it to eat aptasia and it doesn't then put its favorite food on the aptasia.
I suspect there are 2 separate reasons these fish struggle early on - 1; Majority aren't eating and have problems with their beak so they are doomed (this wasn't you) - 2: Internal parasites get a smaller % of the ones that eat - The fish is easily stressed and probably gets overcome with disease / stress especially in a busy tank after getting through shipping. Reminds me of Anampses and Leopard wrasses more than butterflies in this way and they have a similar diet / similar issues (and because of their diets are also more likely to have internal parasites). So many butterflies are more sensitive than these guys but aren't reef safe so don't get the bad press even though 98% of them don't make it.
I'd like to see more care and expertise on the fish sold by LFS in general but I think they should be sold. There are dozens or hundreds of practices that are more destructive to reefs than taking a few fish for aquariums that don't do well.
Also makes me wonder how they are collected....for anyone who says they don’t use cyanide or deal with those that do, if they’re halfway around the world how do you know what’s being done?!?
I think that's key and part of the problem. The fish have a rough time and then slowly fade away with its new owner :-(
Beem looking for pyramid butterfly for ages and havent seen them yet in my lfs.
I'm putting together a 75 gallon tank and need to know a decent light to use for coral and fish also a wave maker?
please and thanks
Daren Brown radions are best on market for lights in my opinion, as for wave makes there’s plenty of good ones out there
My last one I had for 4 years. No way people only had them only for 6 weeks.
Yellow butterfly do eat aiptasia as well
what are some of the best angelfish?
Bought mine together with a bunch of other fish via ebay from someone who got rid of his tank. The most funny and thankfull character in my tank. Only problem that he only will eat frozen food, no pallets.
Great job and advice. O for 3 now. Surprisingly 1 month 2 month and 3 months. All were eating in the LFS and one of as even there for over a month. Even tried the paste food that sticks to the glass of the aquarium. Never once observed eating the small amount of aiptasia in the various tanks I have. But the numbers of aiptasia did seem to decline.
I tried a liveaquaria diver’s den pre-quarantined 3” copperband to boost my odds of success. But in my tank the only thing it would eat were pods. Would not touch aptasia, fan worms, can of cyclops, reef feast, sustainable aquatics, blood worms, or blue zoo. Lasted only 6 weeks.
😕
Wholeheartedly agree however what are the alternatives to cleaning out your tank of fan worms?
Yellow longnose will and I think dwarf angels do too.
My copperband cleared the aptasia within a week of introducing to my 4x2x2 it’s been in 2 years and no aptasia and he eats frozen food he is very pleasant and I’ve had no problems whatsoever
Your alternative options are always so helpful. Thanks!
Will all off the other alternatives eat aiptasia too?
Possibly - my pyramids showed some interest and butterflies generally can be interested. But I'd say most on this list probably won't. The raccoon butterfly does mind...
Prices have gone up! @0:57
We need an update Alex....
Blink during tomorrow's video and you'll miss him!
You always post something very interesting! Keep up the good work🔥
I've had mine for four years now, had to get rid of a blue tang and a yellow tang because they attacked him. This fish is a pig, always wants more mysis and brine, It also likes small pieces of whole shrimp. I have never been able to keep a mandarin more than 2 years however, other people have had them many years, I don't know why. Luck?
Mine died about a year ago after a few weeks in my tank, great video man.
Snouty the Copper band has been with us for nearly 5 years now. It is not the fish that is the problem but the lack of research and inadequate reef tanks of the people that purchase them. Always ask to see the fish eating before purchasing,
All you said was apsolutly truth! I had same expirience with my 3 !
Why not just leave these beautiful fish in their natural environment instead of an artificial interior pond where they are only going to die?
Yellow long-nosed buttery is very similar but easier to keep
Same I had one eating frozen like a pig from day one for 5 weeks but it never gained any weight instead it started loosing weight before it died.
as you always have been you are very right I like your points and, even if I know what you tell me much of the time you still tell me other stuff that help's me know other stuff.
My Copperband has been with me for 6 MONTHS and he’s been eating like a pig. He grew 2 inches, he’s thick and a glorious appearance with shiny bright scales. My thank provides him with an amount of caves and other hiding places that I typically don’t see in other people’s tanks. The tank also naturally grows copepods. My pipefish lives on those, too, in the same tank. If your Copperband is not just a decorative element but the feature creature of your set up ... he’ll thrive. BTW ; he also need foods that contain a mix of krill, squid, clam, oyster, scallop , etc., since in nature they feed on worms and other meaty creatures. ( Herbivore Frenzy is one of those foods by LRS , and also contains different seaweeds and broccoli )
I fully agree with not keeping fish that are impossible to keep healthy and happy... but many of us keep this fish thriving ... and maybe fish stores should be more responsible to explain the commitment it takes to maintain hard-to-keep species and discourage the casual buyer.
Buy I would never want to stop someone from keeping a Sohal Tang if he has a 300 gallon tank for him and knows how to properly feed large tangs. I can’t afford keeping a Sohal .... but if you are, I want you to have that freedom.
Sorry for the typos 🤪
If anyone wants a Copperband make sure that you see it feeding, this will typically be frozen mysis, if it won't take the food then don't buy the fish.
I've had mine 7 years and witnessed it eating frozen mysis at the LFS.
Be wary of the Long Nose Butterflyfish as some of them like clams so if you have class in your tank, this fish will be a potential risk to them.
see this is great advice! 100% people listen to this! we need to ban the trade of copperbands, when i used to work in (unamed) LFS i would never order them in these just do not have the captivity life span which is not fair on the animal! keep stuff like this up!
Like many others I tried a CB while i was fairly new to the hobby. Needless to say it only survived a couple weeks :( . A few years down the line i gave it another go. This time I was armed with more knowledge and a larger mature tank. Naively i thought this would make a difference but sadly that wasn't the case. I vowed never to get another and decided they were best left in the ocean. There's nothing worse than watching a beautiful peaceful fish starve itself to death. Anyhow, fast forward three or four years and a fellow local reefer offered me his CB. I was buying a second hand skimmer from him as he was shutting down his tank. The guy had been in the hobby decades and the offer was too good to turn down as i knew he'd had this CB for a few years. The CB came at a cost to me as i had to rehome my prized purple tang due to aggression/bullying. The CB also quickly eat around £100 worth of acans shortly after introducing him to my tank. i then had to move on a trachaphilia he started taking an interest in. The good news he eats pretty much anything but dry food and is the greediest fish in my tank. He'll literally eat from your hand and has no qualms of pushing his tank mates out the way when it comes to feeding time.
I've been in the hobby around 8 years now and i've own this CB roughly 2 years. What i would say to anyone thinking about getting a CB is... IMO it is achievable but the chances are stacked against you. I have no doubt my CB has only survived due to the previous keeper who got him accustom to the aquarium life style. I'd also add you should be extremely carefully when selecting a CB. Mine is constantly hunting around the rock work looking for pods, fan worms, etc even after eating a chunk of clam or mussel. I've lost count the number of CBs that i have seen in LFS's which just swim aimlessly about the tank showing little or no interest in food. Finally, if you already have aggressive fish in your tank dont even consider a CB.
I am amazed these fish are considered difficult and expert only. I have one in every tank for the invaluable ability to decimate aptasia. I have not had the slightest issue with any of them. All are over two years old and eat like crazy. I put all my fish through the tank transfer method with two days in formalin if it matters.
I feel like this is me and ritteri nems. I haven't even gotten my tank yet and I have successfully convinced myself that this 'expert only' nem is going to be okay in my future reeftank. Despite the warnings, you convince yourself that with enough planning, enough luck, it will work for you. The second stage is real!
P.S mate I don't know if you realise this, but the next recommended video on this playlist is, a few months later, you making a video about having bought another copper banded butterfly XD Amazing and goodluck.
For people with aptasia problems, google berghia nudibranch. Im giving this route a try.
This is one that should be left in the ocean. I’ve never been able to keep one past a few months. Nice video.
Agreed, if you can't keep.one for more than a few months. However plenty of us know how to choose and feed one. If you don't either learn or as you say leave them alone.
You have to feed them. I've had one for over 4 months and hes fat and healthy. Food processor a mix of clam mussels and squid and feed along with brine and mysis. You have to offer them food multiple times throughout the day even after they are accepting food. They havent had healthy meals since they were in the ocean so immune system is low. Feed so much you have to do weekly water changes for a month until your fish have rebounded.
As hobbyist we should NOT want to buy something that we know has little chance of surviving, only then will the suppliers may start to think twice about stocking these beautiful creatures in the first place if no one is buying them, as always, a great video Alex 👍👍
Man you described my stages of buying a difficult fish
Im gonna get one but im not getting one until my 180gallon gets switched over...this is just my opinion but any fish around a copper bands adult size just needs at least 6ft/2ft/2ft minimal...i mean ya can make a 75gallon work but ask yourself how big would you want your own fallout shelter to be beacuse you will live out your days there...but hey thats just me some folk just could care less but i will say if your watching videos like this you love your tank and wants whats best...cheers man hope you have a great weekend ahead alex :)
Realmente já tive 2 cooperband foi uma decepção.
Maybe if the copper band was paired that could be why it died and why a lot die love birds tend to not last long after one dies
Good video. Shouldn’t be collected. If you dive and see healthy adults in the wild they are also around a foot long when mature...
When I first started in the Marine hobby I got a copper band frozen food did really well for about 10 weeks then it's fine upside down and died love the fish but leave them alone in the ocean got myself a coral beauty angelfish had it over a year now now not once has it ever gone there a coral far better than a flame angel good video mate
Once again fab advice
4 years later…. This still your thought?
Yep
@@ReefDork Thank you! I am getting ready to purchase my first fish set after my clowns…. And doing everything you said to do in your what to get and what not to get….. although I might cave on a blue tang eventually lol
Thanks
This video was so good, you almost managed to get me to resubscribe after "don't QT gate" :)
🤣
Lost mine at 18 month. I just put another into qt. Agreed usually these fish last weeks. This will be the last try.
Thank you
I saw several warning videos like this when I got to stage two.
Chose to DELIBERATELY IGNORE the warnings.
Found TWO fat ones at a local shop and they were eating like pigs!
My joy lasted about a month, then the GRIM REAPER CAME KNOCKING.
😩🥺😰
🙁
Touch wood as they say I’ve had one now for just over 5 weeks he’s eating like a pig !! Even eats out my hand he’s growing to he’s thick bodied and swimming strong constantly wanting to eat he’s feed twice a day.. I think one of the secret of keeping a copper band is also the tank mates he’s in with, I got rid of my yellow tang and two Anthias there’s only 6 fish in my 90g which allows him to feed at his pace so they don’t have to starve or get out competed for the food ! Nice video tho.. best wishes Dave.
Solution: get a long nose. Good for reef in my experience and they do well with prepared foods for the most part.
had mine for years
Well, you have tried 3 times!!? When will the 4th attempt be!!? 🤪🤪🤪
Sorry mate... even after your video i couldn't resist it😅
Still aprreciate (all) the video👍 hopefully other people are stronger than me😓
Cheers👍
They should be banned from exporting in. It's cruel. I also laughed when you said clam in a half shell. Took me straight back to my child hood in the 90s.
Love your advice and @BRSTV. I've been out of the hobby for a while and just moved to Aus from sunny England. Give a year, two years to settle and then I'll set one up.
Love the look of these guys and would live one in my tank. I have given them two attempts and will not try again...poor guys. 1st didnt eat and died after a few days 2nd lasted nearly a year, destroyed my aptasia problem, the one day I fiddled with my rock scape... then he decided to stop eating and died :( leave them be.
Sorry to hear about the fish but good information to put out there. Most hobbyists should not be getting these fish.
Some do well but unless you get a healthy specimen from the start the chances are minimal.
Well done 👍 Just wondered and it could just be me. But when your giving loads of info (not pertaining to this video) could you speak just a little slower. I love your videos and you give us great content. Keep it up looking good!!!
Hardly alternatives,people buy them to eat aiptasia so an alternative should include aiptasia eating fish
my favourite fish, but i've never owned one. i just watch them at my LFS and hope they go to good homes :/
Picky eaters = slow eater in my experience. Some fish just like to look at the food for a few sec before eating. If you have alot of fish they don.t have time to eat it before some other fish get it and they starve. I had a copperband for a few years and a mandarin in a nano for 5years.
I guess I just got lucky but I got a Copperband about 6mths ago and once I found a food he likes .....BOOM! He’s doing fine and the best thing is I now have absolutely no aiptasia in the Tank! Maybe just luck for me but I’m glad I have it for sure.
Mine a coral ate it