Here's my video with reasons NOT to get one! Note I went through stage 2 of the research cycle again... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9tzYKmQppOrgIk.html

I tried a Copper Band once after seeing it gobble down frozen mysis in a local shop. I got it home, offered the same exact brand food and watched it ignore food for 3 days. I then spent several days trying new frozen foods, then a week trying to get it to eat live foods. I made a PVC feeder to isolate his food, and he wasn't in with any aggressive fish. It didn't eat any of the 8 or so foods I offered it. It wouldn't even eat brine shrimp in my system (and this was after seeing it actively eat in it's sale tank I purchased it from). I still watched him wither and die after a few weeks. Good luck, but I personally believe the hobby should stop importing them and allow this species to thrive in wild. Instead we kill thousands a year with an abysmal success rate. When we can purchase aquaculture Copper Bands that are raised on common aquarium food, much like ORA Dragonettes; then I will consider one. Wild caught should stay wild

I’d never give up my Purple Tang for a damn butterflyfish. Yet another reason to avoid them shaky ass copperbands.

I love to see someone who is really dedicated to keeping a fish. I’ve had mine for about four years, and he’s been doing great!

New video in a months time “Why I really would never buy another copperband”

Ja ja ja You becaming addicted to big fishes,like Duch Reefer☺

I find it’s the struggle with completing for the food with other than tank mates rather than not wanting to eat. Sometimes they like to take their time, in which time another fish has eaten what they are half way through eating.You might have tried already but try using a large see through turkey baster.. So much easier to target feed just the one fish rather than the whole tank. I find that mine can see the food and learns where and when it’s coming from and has the ideal mouth for the job. Also as others have said they love masstick but you should feed the tank something that the copper band doesn’t like at the same time so it can feed in peace. I’m no expert but have had mine over 3 years. 👍🏼

You have a fantastic tank and a nice fish! Copper Band is an easy fish to keep. Not shy and eating like a pig. Friendly with the tankmates. Eats all kind of frozen food however you need to feed the fish with Bloodworms as well. Copper Band is the happiest fish in the tank.

You probably already know but mine loved mastic paste, couldn't get enough of it.

I have just been looking at copperbands and watched your last video on them! They are beautiful, good luck this time. I’ll watch out for your vids before I take the plunge. Thanks

Oh no the longnose butterflyfish is eating corals

Always recommend to buy difficult fishs „used“ from people leaving the hobby.

Hi Alex, it’s always a pleasure to see your videos. I’ve had my Copperband for 4 months now, and there are a couple of things I’ve learned. They cannot really compete at feeding time with faster fish, and due to the shape of their mouth, their intake of food is a lot slower too. So to give him a chance of getting his fair share, I use a syringe to quickly squirt food at two different locations, so that one acts as a distraction. And turning the wave makers and gyres off during meal time is also very important, so that food stays in the same place. Be sure to rinse your frozen food (mine particularly likes my sis with garlic and brine shrimp quintet) in ro water to wash away the nitrates.. I’m so glad the tang is away. They cannot defend themselves at all. Fingers crossed your Copperband settles in and flourishes.

Hi mate ,I'm DARREN and thank you for getting a fish I've avoided since the bloody 80')so LOL, M 0:08 y new addition is doing VERY well ,THANKS again KEEP UP THE KZfaq thing I'm watching and still learning THANKYOU😂😂😂 COME the COPPERBAND 😂😂😂😂

Been thinking about getting a copper and, but think I'll wait for your update. Top video, top man👍

Thanks for the honest and open review as always, it’s very refreshing .... 👌

Best of luck with him Alex. I know a few people that have kept them for years so certainly can be done!

Another Great video Alex, keep up the good work

After over a year of helping others obtain their dream Copperbands with the help of a fellow Reefer who has 5 fully mature ones (I call him the Copperband Whisperer). Couple of weeks ago, I found the healthiest most active specimen I’ve ever seen! I caved and paid for it but I couldn’t take it home straight away so the shop kept it until I could collect. Couple of weeks later, got it and put it in, it’s absolutely amazing! It’s honestly like it’s been in my system forever! Still taking no risks! Ive got every on standby in case and ive now got a huge pod culture to supply it 🤣

Hilariously I had watched your previous video on NOT to get one and ignored your advice and have had a very similar journey with mine. He wasn’t taken with masstick, live baby brine or any form of frozen food I threw at him until tonight, so I’m more than pleased after 10 anxious days of trying every trick and hole-filled contraption I could think of to no avail. 😁

Good luck! I’m excited for the next video

I have had several copper bands over the 20+ years of reef keeping. One lasted only a couple weeks despite the fact that it looked healthy and was eating mysis shrimp at the LFS. The second I had for over 5 years. My current copper band I've had for two years and counting and it eats out of my hand at the top of the tank. There were tons of vermited snails on the live rock which it has also been feeding on. One of my favorite fish in the hobby for sure.

Good luck mate! I did try and it lasted just over a week before it died....I'm fascinated to see how you get on, I tried most things that I thought was right (making sure it was feeding ect ect) if anyone I know of can keep one it's you....so...show us the way!! Haha

Beautiful tank mate!

Hey Dork..... good job being "real". CBBs are fantastic fish and I think you have covered most of the pre-qualifications to give it another go. But yes..... your Acans are probably short for this world. ;-)

My tank has been up and running for 10 years and have wonderful filtration. I would not go this to this extent of over feeding. I hope that your tank will survive this bio overload. Best of luck 🤞

Lympho seems pretty common with butterfly’s. As long as you can identify what’s causing it to appear and treat the underlying issue the fish should be fine. In more severe cases the cysts can be removed very gently by hand followed by an anti bacterial dip. The method above is best left to a professional though. If done incorrectly the operation can scar the fish, damage fins, or cause a secondary bacterial infection. Not sure if you have ever tried live rotifers. The butterfly won’t eat them but all the other microfuana will giving them a boost in population and more potential food for the Copperband. Good luck, it sounds like you have done everything as best as it can be done👍

I kept seeing it in videos you posted but thought must just be old videos haha

took me 3 attempts to reach success. glad i didnt give up cos theyre great fish especially w aiptasia. first 2 were smaller and didnt fare well after a few weeks. took me few months to find a healthy one for the 3rd attempt. found a med size that was at the lfs for 3 weeks. it finally worked. he started eating pe mysis and now eats almost anything i put in. Best part he totally wiped out an aiptasia infestation. good video and the info u shared is spot on

My copperband started out on mussels then I tricked him onto masstick by putting the masstick into a half mussel shell, then I started mushing pellet food into the masstick to boost the nutrition and my boy now eats mainly that and PE music twice a week. Tank's looking fire as always Alex 🔥

Iv had my copperband for 4 months now. Hes doing really well. Although he is the biggest fish in the tank bar a fuzzie dwarf lion which is the same size. All tank mates are peaceful which i think is the key. No tangs or aggressive fish with similar body shapes. Mine is first to everything.

I have had mine for 4 months now doing amazing I feed every other day clams from Morrisons just defrost it plop it in and just destroys it highly recommend doing this

Mine loves bloodworms and so do my tangs so that's now the bulk of their diet.

Ive had mine for a year, hes fat and healthy, competeting for food with a caribbean blue tang, i have a great lfs, i saw mine feeding before buying and my independendent lfs wouldnt sell me him unless he was sure he was feeding well. Good luck, love you channel too !

I have had my 2nd CB 6 months. Mine loves uncooked scallop inc. coral (roe) and razor clam. Freeze them both then shave bits off I target feed with a baster. CB sticks its nose up the end and pulls the bits out. It will also eat frozen brine shrimp. I agree it is all about the extra mile or ten with these unless you are very lucky.

Had mine for more than 2 years now love him 😍 Hand feed him every night with freeze dried blackworms . He loves it .

had mine for 4 months eating mysis rs. They are fussy though, I think its the luck of the draw with them. Tanks looking sweet!

Cool and tomorrow im buying a easier one I’m buying tomorrow the longnose butterflyfish

There’s good tips on keeping Butterfly fish from Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies titled Caring for Marine Butterfly Fish : Species Spotlight with Hilary, 9 December 2020. You will hopefully have more success with feeding and keeping alive for longer. I thought 💭 it was very helpful, full of good options and advice from a marine biologist. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Mine loves a mussel sourced from the local supermarket fish counter , uncooked. He goes crazy for it !. Very cheap too can get a months supply for £3 or £4. Beautiful fish, best of luck 👍

Hope the Copperband works for you. Whilst I respect your choice I personally think this is a fish best left in the ocean. 👍

What kind of clowns do you have. I love the way that one looks

I've heard of people that put masstick into clams, at the beginning. After some time, the chelmon started to eat it from the glass. Living food maybe another option. Best of lucks. The purple tang is a great sacrifice.

Another honest fact learning education

very cool video well done

You should try mixing the mysis in with the masstick, then slowly reduce the mysis and add pellets etc mine eats pellets and flake now, even if it is at the speed of a three toed sloth. Hope this guy settles in and lives a long full life.

Check out Dutch Reefers videos on on successfully keeping a Copperband. He's had his for over 6 years now.

I’d buy a large, active, fat, and eating copperband as it doesnt look like it got its flesh sucked out of its body. But there are mostly those specimens with two or three out of four traits present and Im gonna have to settle for those rather than getting a thin and hungry individual.

Hi! Do you mind if you explain colour composition of the lamp that you used? 🙏🏻

Just love that fish

My Norman is in a tank with 5 Tangs and loves minced clams in a can from the grocery store. I broadcast feed and I place some in a tightly netted clip made for Nori he loves that and Mysis Shrimp really anything frozen. He's a shark when it comes to feedings lol

I know this is not the same as as in a reef, but from what I have learned with freshwater fish, bloodworm is pretty nutritionally void. It also causes disease in freshwater, but I doubt that would be a problem in a reef. If I were you, since he eats bloodworm, I would try to get him to eat black worms. It has much more nutritional value, and if he eats bloodworm, he would probably eat black worm pretty quickly.

Best of luck. This fish is at the top of my list so hopefully you'll have some food advice to pass on

If your worried about your nitrate and phosphate, test. I’d advise getting the copper band hand feeding. That way it’s easy to target feed.

The most underrated channel on reefing☝🏻

You should try fresh mussels, just cut the shell open and throw them in. My copperband goes nuts for them.

I was sceptical about ever owning a copper band, many much more experienced reefers than myself have not been successful (i've only 1yr in marine). However, my lfs owner, someone with 30yrs+ experience and has a genuine interest in the welfare of the fish he sells, said a properly sourced and supplied CB, needn't represent a risk. Crucially the fish requires acclimatising on each leg of it's journey... He won't sell one until it's been under his care a minimum of 2 weeks! (And his supplier works the same) - these fish unfortunately tend to sell out of shops far too quick for their own good. We've had ours now 1.5 months (i realise that's not terribly long) and while he's yet to deal with any of the aptasia we have, he's now eating really well and fighting for his share. We have upped each meal by an extra cube of food to ensure he gets opportunity over his gannet tank mates (I'm hoping a gradual reduction of food will mean the aptasia soon goes on the menu). But largely other than a bit of a showing who's is boss from our Freckle Face tang and a slight lull in eating a few days in - that lasted about a week (thankfully he was already a good size) there's been very little to report so far.

This is great

Great video and the tank is looking unreal. "Goldilocks" sounds like a great name for this copperband?!

Hey... you inspired me to get a CBB for my reef tank which has no fish, only some inverts and coral. Do you think this CBB will learn to feed himself or should I put a fish or two to help CBB to feed (so CBB can learn to eat feeding from other fish)?

Tang: u luk like fud Copperband: Come near me and die! Tang: u stil luk like fud Alex: Bye bye tang😈😈😈 Tang: 😕 no pliesss 🥺🥺🥺 Alex: YEET

i just sold my cobberband he just went for all my LPS. But I had him for a year. And he was werry happy for blue shell and mosquito larvae. the white one. Good luck I only had luck until he goes nuts on my Acans :D

Got those notifications turned on 😉

Great video as always, my fairy head wrasse got startled when I went to refit my DD temperature display which fell off the wall, he jumped up onto the glass lid, I quickly got him back in the water, but he now hides behind a rock 24/7 doesn’t even come out for food, any suggestions what I can do to encourage him to come out again? I now put covers all around the tank of a night time to prevent him getting startled again, as he has always been so jumpy and nervous.

Make more videos like this ❤️

Tut tut 😂

Had my copperband 6 months now. my powder brown hated him when he first went in but was best mates after a couple days. Destroyed my acans too

Nice video! I am in kind of the same situation. I tried 2 copperbands. They where eating in the lfs and also in my tank in the beginning. But my purple tang kept chasing them until they stopped eating and both died. I have the same fish trap and I was wondering what the best approach is to get that tang into the box and how long it took for you. I have the tang for 2 years now and I really like him but he is getting more and more aggressive and I think it’s time to move on. Thank you so much for your input. Chris

Just saying, from what I have heard, copperbanded butterflyfish only do well in low flow environments, and not in high flow aquariums like an sps dominant tank.

Yeah I bought one too..before knowing all about him. 🥴

"never buy a copper banded butterfly" well that aged like milk

I must have got lucky because I’m new to the hobby and my copperband eats like crazy and eats out of my hand

You need to breed whiteworms for this guy. It is really easy

How is your copperbanded butterfly doing? Have you found food that he eats and are your LPS corals still there? Looking to get one.

Are you saving food for the snails in the back left glass ;) ?

Good luck an amazing fish. Mines just developed an eye sight issues at 6 months of having it... might buy a guide dog

Love this fish I’ve had one and lost one I want another but to scared

Many thanks Alex good vid . But you’ve put my mind at rest : NO WaY ☹️👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

My peppermint shrimp ate aiptasia in week 1 of me having them.

Mine has been doing amazing and the only think I regret about it: it doesn’t have much personality

Any updates on CBB?- I am a scientist and tried my best- but haven’t been successful. LMK what your experience has been so far. Thanks

I love copper bands, let us know how they fair with your LPS. But purple tang vs copper band, tough call, both have their utilitarian purposes, but excuse me while I take a lighter to my Aiptasia (not joking, it's on my to do list today)

Dutch reefer has been successful using massstick food. Maybe give it a go. Edit. Note to self. Watch entire vid before commenting

Any update ? Still swimming ?

Hi Alex how’s the copper band do they eat clams

i took the impluse bullet and bought one toady. i am goig to try my hardest to keep him alive

chop up fresh uncooked muscles from supermarket

NICE VIDEO I don't blame you for Trying

Copperband re such beautiful fish though, hot the fella or lady makes it.. 🙃

Very risky!

Do you think CopperBanded are easier than Morrish Idols? I’ve heard that moorish idols are much harder to keep, and have way worse survival rates than copper bands. Ps: Don’t worry, I’m not thinking about trying either of them for at least 3-5 years.

Cool vid. I got my fish 1 week ago luckily he is eating frozen mysis but never touched my aptasia hope he do one day !

A purple tang for a copper band? Bruh

Hi. After two ears with my clowfish i give up too aclimate them with anemone :( Any idea how i can get them too quadricolor?

Any help you can send me on feeding cooperband as mine don't like frozen at the mint👍

Could you not re add the tang in few months he probably wouldn't bother him then as he's the new fish now I had a emperor angel and when I added the copper band he went nuts after him like worst I've ever seen and I had to take him out and added him back few months later and no issues

Add ALGAE TURF SCRUBBER ALL UR ISSUE SOLVE

Ooh, you are awful, but I like you

I bought more berghia nudibranch 😭 20 so far dam aptasia

Also if this fish hard to keep why they sale it? Just keep them in wild.. 🥴