Sailfin and Copper-banded Butterfly

[Rainman]

Do you think these two will get along? I've heard that Sailfins don't like to have things the same size and colour/pattern as themselves in the same tank. What do you think?

And, what tangs can be kept together. What about a brown tang and a sailfin?

 

[jsbradbury]

Just my $.02... but I think your tank is a little too small for any tang. The Chelmon rostratus will get at least 6" probably closer to 8" and should be in a tank at least double yours. Sailfin tangs get HUGE! if given time, probably close to about 15" - and shouldn't really be kept in anything smaller than a 120g.

 

[fishymike]

I have a Sailfin tang in my 90 that is actually too big for my tank, he was tiny less than a year ago. I actually feel bad for the little guy and hope to upgrade so he has more space. My girlfriend is attached to him or I would think about trading him in or giving him to someone with a bigger thank. I would stay away from tangs until you get at least a 75 or so, but that is just my opinion. Clowns are great for smaller tanks, a lawn mower blenny would be a good addition as well. Mine is pretty cool.

 

[Rainman]

Yeah, was thinking of a lawnmower. I'm going to persist because she (i think it's a she) is very happy. They've got heaps of nooks and crannies etc...

I'm planning on keeping her until she gets uncomfortable and the trading her. She's so healthy a.t.m. *touch wood*

 

[dizzy]

Rainman,
I keep a lot of different tangs together but generally in larger tanks than yours. I have a 100-gallon slim tank with a yellow tang and a sailfin tang. Somehow the tank developed a severe case of aptasia so I decided to add a copperband butterfly. The tangs (similar in size to the copperband)both hasseled the copperband for a day or two, but he finally settled in. Within two weeks he had eliminated literally 100s of aptasia. Everything was fine until he started eating my true perk eggs a day or so after they spawned. He was removed to a shallow 100-gallon tank that had a few aptasia, and was home of my prized black tang. The black tang put a nice slice on one side, but the copperband recovered and the aggression stopped in a day or so. They get along fine now. My tangs don't seem to grow as fast as some indicate theirs do, but I agree you could find fish that are better suited for your tank size.
Mitch

 

[thhardin]

You might also want to make sure the copperband you are purchasing will eat a prepared food. I purchased one on-line, and it eliminated about 1,000 aptasia within a week. It also eliminated every tiny feather duster I had (hundreds of them). Since all of this is gone, I now realize I can not get him to eat anything I put in the tank. It has been a few months, and he still looks fine, but it is hard to tell how he will do.

I would avoid a copperband unless you have a very large system with a ton of growth in the tank for him to eat. Unless, of course, you can find one and personally witness it eating a prepared food.

 

[dizzy]

Copperbands can definitely be picky eaters. I suppliment mine's diet with well fed live adult brine.

 

[Rainman]

The one that I have got on hold looks very healthy (pretty much and A1 fish). I basically don't buy fish unless they look tip-top and I've got my QT all ready to go.

The staff at the LFS have been feeding him. I'm going today to potentially purchase him and will make sure to ask them to feed him right before my very own eyes

I understand all of your concerns re: size, but am pretty sure that he will be ok. He seems to be quite subordinate to the four coral beauties that are in the tank with him at the LFS! I think the sailfin will remain the boss of the tank.

I'll post up a photo if I get him.

 

[thhardin]

Good luck. At least you have had an opportunity to put it on hold and watch it for a while. They are a beautiful fish!

You will not have a problem with Aiptasia! Keep us posted.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh Rainman, is it love? Doth he speak of quarantine so truly, so divine? <sigh>

 

[Rainman]

Very sad news. The copper-banded butterfly is dead.

Yesterday I got went to the LFS and picked up a healthy, beautiful (and long awaited), feeding specimen.

I took him home and slowly dripped water from the QT into his shop water. Then placed him in the tank.

Although he cowered behind the cover provided, he fed immediately. What a great fish I thought.

Then I woke up this morning and he was dead. Lying slightly battered around the head area on the bottom of the tank.

I immediately tested the ammonia, which looked as though it may have spiked during the night.

The QT was set up as follows: tank water taken from main tank and left to sit for 24hrs with an old-school corner filter with activated carbon and filter wool in place. Obviously this was insufficient.

I thought it would have been ok.

 

[dizzy]

Live and learn.

 

[Rainman]

For real. Next time I get the opportunity I'll be making sure that the QT water is a new perfect batch. I'll also be sitting up all night monitoring the thing. It's a shame because if the LFS was a little better at QTing their fish we might not have this problem.

It's just such a shame because it was such a sweet little fish And I feel like a freaking idiot noob to boot!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Aw, please don't, Rain. It happens to the best of us.

 

[thhardin]

That is too bad, sorry to hear that.

They are beautiful fish. I just lost mine tonight after a few months. As I said before, I could not get him to eat anything. At least Rainman was buying a specimen that he had observed feeding in a LFS. I had purchased mine via internet during an Aiptasia induced panic attack.

Live and learn for me on this one as well. Overall, tank is doing awesome, but I could not get him to eat. He munched on feather dusters and Aiptasia only. Once I ran out of these in my 180, I'm guessing he starved. I could not see any change to his behavior or physical condition....until yesterday.