Best tank mates for a Copper Band Butterfly

[PanchoG]

I would like to introduce a CBB in my tank, previously it was tough as I had tangs, fix face and angels already settled and acting very territorial.

I am still considering tangs and angels but they will have to wait after the CBB is comfortable in my tank.

What fish would you recommend to have with a CBB?

 

[Auquanut]

No expert, but I've seen CBB's with tangs before. I'm thinking that if the butterfly was introduced before the tangs, it should work.

 

[PanchoG]

Bump

 

[Michael E Hedges]

Any fish that don't steal their food or beat them up increases survival rate... Umm, that sure doesn't leave a lot! I buy 5 or 6 CBBs at a time, remove the aggressive ones right away in acclimation and keep your fingers crossed that they eat. Live natural reef foods like aptasia and live worms at first is a must for finicky eaters. If they are still alive after 2 weeks or so u can breathe easier!

 

[Michael E Hedges]

Any fish that don't steal their food or beat them up increases survival rate... Umm, that sure doesn't leave a lot! I buy 5 or 6 CBBs at a time, remove the aggressive ones right away in acclimation and keep your fingers crossed that they eat. Live natural reef foods like aptasia and live worms at first is a must for finicky eaters. If they are still alive after 2 weeks or so u can breathe easier!

 

[EliMelly]

My Copperband is fine with my tangs and angels. Just make sure to add it first and ensure it is eating.

 

[Michael E Hedges]

I like to get a large schooling group of CBBs together in a very long 100+ gal 6 ft tank and tangs and the other compatible species will all join in on the fun.

 

[dvgyfresh]

CBB , blue tang , and other tang all introduced into aquarium at the same time , this made them all buddies of each other, it depends on how you introduce them to the tank - the best way is all at the same time

 

[EliMelly]

CBB , blue tang , and other tang all introduced into aquarium at the same time , this made them all buddies of each other, it depends on how you introduce them to the tank - the best way is all at the same time

I would add the Copperband first. It’s better to make sure it’s established before adding more aggressive fish.

 

[Marco_99]

My Copperband is fine with my tangs and angels. Just make sure to add it first and ensure it is eating.

What tangs do you have with it

 

[EliMelly]

What tangs do you have with it

Achilles, gem, hippo, yellow, naso, white tail

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would add the Copperband first. It’s better to make sure it’s established before adding more aggressive fish.

I like to think of it as like an “orientation” remember in school you were always closest to those either in your class or with you at orientation AKA those that you were with in the beggining. The transfer student that joined halfway through the year never quite fits in..

 

[Michael E Hedges]

I occasionally see my mature purple tang, 2 powder blue tangs, 2 majestic angels, large queen angel, bicolor angel schooling when I first enter the room. But no CBBs in either of my 250 8 ft long tanks, to much competition for food and no guarantee they get enough during a feeding frenzy. So I put only longnose butterflies in the 100 gal tank, small angel mix in the other 100 and always have 2 70 gal tanks for the aggressive problem makers to chill in but surprisingly my 2 8 inch clown triggers bother nobody at all so separated them into each 250 and all is well!

 

[OrionN]

As long as your CBB is healthy and eating well, he will do well with tangs already in the tank, provide that the tank is large enough and the tank health is good.
I have Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Foxface, Powder Blue in my 320. I added my CBB pair into it without problem. CBB won't take any crabs from tangs. They also very fast swimmer and can circle the tangs with ease. Dorsal spike of the CBB is a potent weapon.

 

[jsmkmavity]

My established yellow tang immediately went after my new cbb and repeatedly harpooned him with his tail spike. Within a minute or 2 it was rip cbb before i could do anything about it.

 

[jsmkmavity]

I would luke to try again someday but would add the cbb first or with the yellow tang next time.