Copperbanded Butterflyfish, Reef Safe?

[howman1]

today, at the lfs, my wife wanted to buy one, we looked in the pocket guide"marine Fish" which states they are reef safe....still, i am hesitant and want to know people's experiences....

do they eat your featherdusters, what is the negative, (positive is aptasia...which i have none)

thanks
howard

 

[BradR]

I've owned several over the past 10 years. They all ate aitapsia and feather worms but never picked at coral. YMMV however. GL

 

[Garry thomas]

you say several over the years? they all died? although i found them to be reef safe i could'nt keep um longer than 6 months ish but i have not tryed since with my new tank!

 

[amber]

I have a copperbutterfly --she's been here about a year. I believe you can keep these if you are willing to feed them what they want. I feed her live bloodworms and mysis shrimp (the good kind without a lot of water and still whole--there is a lot of difference in m. shrimp). She prefers the worms--only live ones. Will eat a little frozen brine shrimp (not good nutrition) and maybe one frozen bloodworm. She may my finding pods also, I'm not sure.

No problem with her bothering corals. She did nip my featherduster.

HTH amber

 

[eddi]

Butterflies are hard to keep, but as they go, Copperbands are fairly hardy. I have had one for oevr 1.5 years and it is doing great. I feed it brine shrimp, mysis, reef formula. It even ate blood worms; I have a fresh water as well and I poured in the wrong cup.

I also have a couple of feather dusters that the fish has not bothered, but they are somewhat hidden. Maybe they moved because he was picking at them, but they are fully open.

One of my absolute favorite fish.


Eddi