Kermit Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Well after a long process of trying to zap the aiptasia with kwalk, drano i thought i'd try something a bit more natrual as i had enough of getting nowhere fast, so first i got a couple of pepermint shrimps in they went, hmm didn't see them for about two-three weeks no change to the aiptasia, hmmm ok what next sweet a copperband butterfly came up for grabs so thought why not so i got the little guy put him in and hey presto almost two months latter the aiptasia is gone from about 400-500+ to under 50 yippy no more zapping aiptasia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 aiptasia is gone from about 400-500+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 make sure you cultivate some in a spare tank just in case your CB eats nothing else after he finished all the aiptasia in the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 to under 50 yippy no more zapping aiptasia i have two, as in 1, 2 nuked them 3 times already but these 2 are tough little buggers. not sure why these ones wont die, maybe they're immune to joe's juice now...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 sweet. Mine did the same thing, about 50 wee guys down to 0. nice :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 My racoon has eliminated them too, doesn't seem to bother corals too much either. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 What do you mean by too much Layton? I would like a racoon butterfly if they can be trusted, they are certainly a pretty fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Well, i don't notice any damage to corals, they still grow well, and I never see the racoon picking at them. I don't have any LPS like euphilla or fleshy brains, they might go after those more than sps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 400-500+ yeah got sick of trying to rid the pest, it looked like a mat of anemones :evil: but now you have to look hard to see one . Cookie extreme make sure you cultivate some in a spare tank just in case your CB eats nothing else after he finished all the aiptasia in the tank yeah have got to admit the little fella doesn't seem to eat anything else, well nothing that i've noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Thanks Layton, now all I need to know is will my copperband get on with a racoon? Anybody tried this? I've read that copperbands will not get on with certain other butterflies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minchton Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 When I got mine I was warned that it would only eat the small apstasia so would have to still treat the bigger ones. No one told the copperband and he has gladly munched through all sizes. I now grow apstasia in a second tank to make sure he always has a food supply. Never thought I would ever deliberately put this pest in my tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 need to know is will my copperband get on with a racoon? never found it to be a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 True! To think of all the time and effort I put into eradicating aptaisia, took years. Now i have a copperband could have saved the effort. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Yeah, i wouldn't think so. Most butterflies seem to be pretty passive fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Thanks Reef, well I think I'll get one next time i come across one I've always liked them. Oh I should ask, I do have some nice torch & frogspawn that would be hard to lose, anybody know for sure how that would work? You got a racoon in your main display Reef? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 You got a racoon in your main display Reef? Not worth the risk for me as i have feather dusters . Was going to try a declivis or tinkers butterfly but i think they will hammer my brain corals. Might try a big longnose butterfly( longirostris) if i can ever find one. very hard to get for some reson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Might try a big longnose butterfly( longirostris) if i can ever find one. very hard to get for some reson. Tell me about it! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Not worth the risk for me as i have feather dusters . Was going to try a declivis or tinkers butterfly but i think they will hammer my brain corals. Might try a big longnose butterfly( longirostris) if i can ever find one. very hard to get for some reson. copperband got my feather dusters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Well thought i'd give an up date, the copperband has rid the tank of apstasia, i was worried about food for the little guy but he has been eating frozen foods for a little while now and he looks healthy, yay no more apstasia and no more stress on feeding the copperband yay yay yay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 My Copperband will not touch apstasia if it is too big. All the small ones are gone. He will only eat brine shrimp but I'll keep trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 My Copperband will not touch apstasia if it is too big. All the small ones are gone. He will only eat brine shrimp but I'll keep trying. use some joes juice or calcium on the big ones, they will then turn into lots of small ones that the copper band will eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 yay no more apstasia and no more stress on feeding the copperband yay yay yay. Well done you lucky thing you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Good tip Tim. Cheers fay, so glad i dont have to worrie about them anymore now i can relax more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Good tip Tim. Cheers fay, so glad i dont have to worrie about them anymore now i can relax more. same, all gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Jealous I added a copperband and failed I only have apstasia in the cube tank and have nearly got it under control by kalk it very day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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