HELP! Copperband is dying!

vanz · 09-04-2005, 03:19 PM

My copperband is really weak right now...he was doing great a couple of days ago, right before I added new fully cured live rock from a reliable source. He stopped eating yesterday and kept hiding. Now he's on the bottom. No signs of illness. My hermits are beginning to gather around him.

What could be wrong and how can I cure him? I just did a 20% water change this morning.

Ryan Mackey · 09-04-2005, 03:53 PM

Not to sound evil but, your copperband butterfly is dying?, couldn't see that comin'. This is not a very hardy fish. Many are imported, few survive. Beware of fish with obvious feeding specialization(sp) for they are harder to keep fed in captivity. R2

Melix · 09-04-2005, 05:54 PM

If everything else in your tank is doing fine, I'd say it's not the rock, and that R2 is unfortunately right. How long have you had the copperband?

vanz · 09-04-2005, 08:57 PM

Copperband died while I was gone....

None of the other fish and stuff were affected with the new addition. I had him for over a month and he was doing so well. Ate mysis out of tweezers and was always at the front of the tank swimming with my clown and clown goby.

After adding the rock, he always hid, and just ignored the food when it came down right past his face.

RIP little buddy.

Lowman · 09-04-2005, 09:55 PM

I had one that did the same thing, hard lesson to learn, but they are really best left in the wild.