Copperband butterflies are a type of saltwater fish. Often referred to as the beaked coral fish, this species can reach lengths of up to 8 inches and is found naturally at depths of up to 82 feet in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. If you’re thinking of adding copperband butterflies to your marine tank setup, you may be wondering if they’re reef safe?
Copperband butterflies are considered reef-safe since they dwell naturally among coral reefs and don’t attack corals deliberately. However, they may nip at coral polyps while foraging for food. To prevent this from happening, be sure to keep them well-fed with high-quality, protein-rich edibles.
Now that you know copperband butterflyfish are generally reef-safe in captivity, then let’s ‘dive deeper’ into this topic. Together we’ll discover how to prevent them from picking at corals, which corals are best for a tank with butterflyfish, what water conditions are recommended for this species, what and how often to feed them, which fish make the best tankmates, and if they’re hard to keep.
So, if you’re ready to learn more about copperband butterflyfish behavior in a reef tank environment, then please read onward…
Are Butterflyfish Considered Reef Safe?
Butterflyfish like the copperband are considered reef safe since they’re found naturally among corals in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Keep in mind that they may pick at soft corals like mushrooms, toadstools, or green stars in a marine tank while foraging for food. Keeping them well-fed is crucial to limiting this.
Do Copperband Butterflyfish Attack Corals?
In most cases, copperband butterflyfish won’t harm corals in a marine tank. That said, they often forage for food near the bottom of an aquarium and may pick at the large fleshy polyps – organisms that take in food and expel waste through their mouths – growing naturally on the corals.
Do Copperband Butterflyfish Eat Corals?
Copperband butterflyfish don’t eat corals themselves but rather feast upon the polys and sessile invertebrates living on or within the corals. This species has a voracious appetite and will eat up to s6 times per day, constantly foraging in search of food.
Keeping copperband butterflyfish away from corals in a marine tank environment is difficult. Opt for small stony corals whenever possible. Also, ensure your fish are well fed with high-quality, high-protein edibles like live or frozen bloodworms, brine or mysis shrimp, and copepods.
Is the Copperband Butterflyfish Safe for Corals?
The copperband butterfly is a saltwater fish found naturally among stony ridges and coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, it’s typically considered safe to keep this species in a marine tank with smaller stony corals – larger, soft, or fleshy corals aren’t recommended.
Which Corals are Best for a Copperband Butterflyfish Tank?
Small, stony corals are best for a marine tank with copperband butterflyfish. Large, fleshy corals are at risk of being picked at or damaged, especially if fish are stressed or malnourished. Acropora and/or montipora are good choices but steer clear of sea anemones, mussas, and scolymias.
What Tank Conditions are Recommended for Copperband Butterflyfish?
Tank conditions have a direct affect on both the behavior and health of copperband butterflyfish. If stressed or underfed, this species may attack tankmates, including corals. The ideal parameters for this fish include the following:
- 75-gallon tank minimum for a single fish – 125-gallon for a mated pair
- Temperature ranging from 75- to 82-degrees Fahrenheit
- Stable pH of 8.1 to 8.4
- Specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.025
- Carbonate hardness of 8 to 12 dKH
- Plenty of live rock to craze upon
- Excellent filtration – high-quality, hang-on-back filter
- Good aeration – add a bubbler or air pump to the tank
- Good lighting – LED bulb with an adjustable brightness feature
- Low ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels
*Please note that copperband butterflies are a delicate fish that can become stressed and/or sick in fluctuating water conditions. They’re a difficult species to keep and breed in captivity and therefore require the care of an experienced aquarist only.
What to Feed Copperband Butterflyfish?
Keeping copperhead butterflyfish well-fed is key to keeping them peaceful in captivity. If malnourished, they’ll become aggressive and nip at fellow tankmates, including corals. They’ll feast on invertebrates in the tank so be careful what kinds of shrimp, snails, and crabs you house with them.
As a type of carnivore, copperband butterflyfish should be fed high-protein, meat-based foods like live blackworms, frozen brine or mysis shrimp, and marine flakes. Feed them at least 3 times per day with just enough food to be eaten in a two- or three-minute time-period as adults, twice a day as juveniles.
Why aren’t Copperband Butterflyfish Reef Safe?
In general, copperband butterflyfish are considered reef safe since they dwell naturally among coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Under certain circumstances, however, this species can unintentionally wreak havoc on corals in a marine tank environment in their never-ending search for food.
For example, if the corals are large and fleshy, copperband butterflyfish will pick at the polys that reside within the corals. Over time, this can damage the corals themselves – they use their sharp teeth and scrape across the corals to get to the polyps/invertebrates.
Are Copperband Butterflyfish Hard to Keep?
Copperband butterflyfish are difficult to keep by aquarium fish standards. They’re picky and hard to feed, especially when first introduced to a marine tank. If crowded or kept in too small of a tank, this species can become territorial in a contained environment.
As well, copperband butterflyfish can be aggressive towards others of their kind. Therefore, they must be added to a marine all at the same time. For this reason (as well as their finicky eating habits), they’re recommended for experienced aquarists only.
What Reef Tankmates are Best for Copperband Butterflyfish?
The best tankmates for copperband butterflyfish are reef-safe and mainly peaceful in temperament. These include the following:
- Cardinalfish
- Clownfish
- Damselfish
- Dwarf angelfish
- Fairly basslets
- Flame hawkfish
- Gobies
- Scooter blennies
- Tilefish
- Wrasses
*All of the above should be added to a butterflyfish reef tank with caution…
Don’t keep copperband butterflyfish with groupers, lionfish, sharks, tangs, or large angelfish. They’re too aggressive and their presence will only stress out your butterflyfish. Seahorses and pipefish also should be housed with copperband butterflyfish as they’re too slow and won’t be able to compete for food.
It’s not recommended that you keep this copperband butterflyfish with other copperbands or different species of butterflyfish. A single or mated pair is okay in an extra-large community tank environment. If you want to keep a group, then you must introduce them to the aquarium all at once at juveniles.
Final Thoughts
To sum-up, copperband butterflyfish are generally considered reef-safe since they don’t intentionally attack corals. They may, however, nip at polyps growing naturally on coral reefs in a marine tank. To limit this behaviour, keep them well-fed with high-quality, protein-rich foods.
I trust this article has been helpful and answered your questions about copperband butterflyfish and their compatibility in a reef tank. Thanks for reading and good luck with your aquarist hobby!
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