The Copperband Butterflyfish ( Chelmon rostratus) is a captivating species, admired for its striking coloration and unique elongated snout. However, its reputation as a finicky eater often discourages aquarists. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the Copperband Butterflyfish's dietary needs and successful feeding strategies.
Understanding the Copperband's Natural Diet
In their natural habitat, Copperbands graze on a variety of small invertebrates, using their specialized snouts to probe crevices in rocks and coral. Their diet consists primarily of worms, small shrimp, fish fry, and other tiny organisms. They are also known to consume Aiptasia anemones, making them a sought-after addition to reef tanks plagued by these pests.
Copperbands are constant pickers, and a slightly messier tank, in which they can hunt and hopefully find a snack, is better for them.
The Challenge of Feeding Copperbands in Captivity
One of the main reasons why Copperbands are difficult to keep in aquariums is their specific dietary requirements. Their natural food sources are not always readily available, and they may be reluctant to accept conventional aquarium fare like flakes and pellets.
Many Copperbands arrive in poor condition due to collection and shipping stress, often suffering from internal injuries or parasitic infections. These factors can further diminish their appetite and make them even more challenging to feed.
Read also: Caring for the African Butterfly Fish
Selecting a Healthy Specimen
Choosing a healthy Copperband is crucial for success. A healthy Copperband should have no marks on it, such as faint dark patches, raised scales, or lumps. Look for fish that are active, alert, and constantly searching for food. Avoid specimens that appear lethargic, emaciated, or show signs of injury or disease.
It is imperative to observe the fish feeding before purchasing it. Ask the store owner to feed the Copperband a variety of foods, such as frozen mysis shrimp, live blackworms, or clam meat. If the fish refuses to eat, it is best to avoid it, regardless of any excuses provided by the store employee.
Initial Acclimation and Quarantine
Once you have acquired a healthy Copperband, proper acclimation and quarantine are essential. Quarantine the fish in a separate tank for several weeks to observe its behavior, monitor its health, and ensure it is eating well before introducing it to the main display tank.
Strategies for Encouraging Feeding
Many hobbyists have found success with a variety of feeding strategies:
Offer a Variety of Foods: Experiment with different food types to find what your Copperband prefers. Some popular options include:
Read also: Diet of the Butterfly Fish
- Live Foods: Live blackworms, white worms, and brine shrimp can be highly enticing to Copperbands.
- Frozen Foods: Mysis shrimp, bloodworms, and finely chopped seafood mixes (such as Rod's or LRS) can be offered.
- Clams on the Half Shell: Freshly opened clams on the half shell are often irresistible to Copperbands.
- Homemade Food: A homemade food mix can be created using mysis shrimp, nori, bloodworms, marine pellet food, and seafood stir-fry (octopus, scallops, squid, and shrimp).
Target Feeding: Target feeding with a pipette or syringe can help ensure the Copperband receives enough food, especially in a tank with other, more aggressive eaters.
Feeding Stations: Using a feeding pouch or clam shell as a feeding station can provide the Copperband with a dedicated space to feed without competition from other fish.
Create a Natural Environment: Provide plenty of live rock with ample crevices and hiding places to mimic the Copperband's natural habitat and encourage foraging behavior.
Isolate the Fish: If the Copperband is not eating, isolate it in a floating container within the display tank to eliminate competition from other fish.
Training to Eat Prepared Foods: Start by offering live brine shrimp, then gradually mix in frozen brine shrimp. Eventually, transition to frozen mysis and bloodworms.
Read also: Butterfly Diet Guide
Mimic Natural Feeding Behavior: Train the Copperband to eat from a feeding pouch, which mimics their natural behavior of pecking at rocks.
Overcoming Feeding Challenges: A Personal Account
One aquarist shared their experience of successfully getting a Copperband to eat after a challenging start:
"After my experience with my first Copperband I'd gotten cocky and most dismissed/forgotten the "they're picky eaters" thing. So began a journey of flooding my system with food, spiking m nutrients and praying this a would eat. At some point I just figured they're dumb LOL I would mix up Rod's, LRS, Hikari, clams on a half shell, live black worms from the LFS - even bought a white worm culture. No dice. Tried various types of food solo, no dice. Dude was literally swimming thru a cloud of mysis, brine, scallops & whatever. Finally, finally - 3 weeks later I saw him pick at a clam on the sand bed. It was literally just once but I jumped for joy! He tends to be up and about before the other fish (I eventually had QT orders be ready and ended up with a bunch of other fish over time)… so I decided to toss in a clam first thing in the morning to give him some "private time" with the food. It wasn't an instant success - but he started picking at the clams more regularly, eventually daily. I started putting the clam into a Two Little Fishies feeding Pouch. More progress - as the days went by he began picking at it more & more. Most importantly - he would pick at it while other fish were around. That went on for a week & I modified the plan: I collected the empty clam shells from the sand bed & began jamming LRS or Rod's in them, sticking that "fake clam" in the pouch next to a real clam. OK - so at this stage we've had some success at him picking at prepared food… Rod's, LRS, etc (I don't count the clams as "prepared"). This stage is where I used his personality to my advantage: he's a cool fish LOL he doesnt run away when I'm using the magnet to scrape the glass, he doesn't care if I have my hand in the tank grabbing old shells etc. So, ok, he's not scared of me, he's proven he'll eat frozen … so what if I tried to target feed him with a pipette? I began by broadcast feeding the left side of the tank; spread it with food to keep all the other fish busy. Put in some nori too etc… just keep the fish busy on the left side. Now, on the right side I stuck my hand in (90% of the fish are scared of me and stand away) but the Copperband came to see what's up. Cool… so I took my hand out, grabbed a pipette full of frozen and gently squeezed so the food would rest at the tip and not completely squirt out. Success! This is more or less an extension of the pipette, baby-bottle stuff. Just squirt the food out a bit so he's not actually sticking his snout into the opening. Easy enough. And, finally, the last step is to compete for food in the open column. Again, this is just another extension of the pipette thing. We're seeing success - he'll participate and grab bites when other fish are around but he's still a bit passive about it. So that's been my 5 week journey with this dude. Its taken a bit of work, lots of wasted food & some strategery but we're making great progress. Is he perfect? No… but I no longer feel as though he's a rental and I see a path towards success. Hopefully the progress continues and he gets fat AF"
This aquarist's perseverance and creative problem-solving demonstrate that with dedication and patience, it is possible to overcome the feeding challenges associated with Copperband Butterflyfish.
Aiptasia Control
Many aquarists acquire Copperbands specifically to control Aiptasia anemones. While some Copperbands readily consume Aiptasia, others may ignore them, especially if they are well-fed on other foods. It is important to note that relying solely on a Copperband for Aiptasia control is not always reliable.
Long-Term Care and Considerations
Once a Copperband is eating well, it is crucial to maintain a stable and healthy environment to ensure its long-term survival. This includes:
- Maintaining Excellent Water Quality: Regular water changes and proper filtration are essential.
- Providing a Varied Diet: Continue to offer a variety of foods to meet the Copperband's nutritional needs.
- Avoiding Aggressive Tankmates: Copperbands can be easily stressed by aggressive fish, so choose tankmates carefully.
- Monitoring for Health Issues: Regularly observe the Copperband for any signs of illness or disease.
Ethical Considerations
The collection and trade of Copperband Butterflyfish raise ethical concerns. Many Copperbands are collected using unsustainable methods, such as cyanide fishing, which can damage reefs and harm other marine life. Additionally, the high mortality rate associated with Copperbands in captivity raises questions about the ethics of keeping this species in aquariums.
Some argue that Copperbands should not be imported at all, given their poor survival rate. Others believe that with proper care and responsible sourcing, it is possible to keep Copperbands ethically.
It is important to source Copperbands from reputable dealers who prioritize sustainable collection practices. Supporting captive breeding efforts can also help reduce the reliance on wild-caught specimens.
tags: #copperband #butterflyfish #diet