Choosing a healthy specimen from the start, feeding properly, and creating the right environment are all essential for success with this species. As previously mentioned, there is a tendency, particularly among reefkeepers, towards feeding fish just enough to keep them in good condition so that dissolved nutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate, stay within acceptable levels. Chelmon rostratus - (Linnaeus, 1758) Local name Copperband Butterflyfish Family Chaetodontidae - Chelmon Origin West Indian Ocean, Australia, Indonesia Max length 20 cm (7,9") But what should you do if you end up with a non-feeding specimen but have no information on whether it was feeding or not? Their silvery-white compressed body has a dark eyespot on the back of the dorsal fin and a black band that goes around the base of the tail fin. However, not all aquarists can source or afford Australian copperbands. Their false eyespot is used to confuse predators to the point that predators do not know which end to attack. The copperband appears to flaunt this to an extent in that Australian specimens are nearly fully grown, but a great deal of success can be had with intermediate-sized individuals from other parts of the Indo-Pacific if they’re given proper care and attention. Copperband Butterflyfish Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus) Chaetodontidae Snout long, about 4 orange bars on sides, and a black ocellus on soft dorsal fin. This provides valuable time for the fish to recuperate and get stronger so they’re better able to deal with the transport process and, therefore, recover more rapidly once acclimated at their shipping destination. Additional names Copperband Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, Copper-Banded Butterflyfish Additional scientific names Chaetodon rostratus, Chelmo rostratus, Chaetodon enceladus, Chelmon rostratus… However, for some species, the copperband included, action may be required. Fish collected from places far from their ultimate destination in the US or Europe must be able to endure the rigors of collection, transportation, and repeated acclimation. Look at it head on, and pay particular attention to the area just above the eyes. The Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) is native to reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. In an aquarium environment, this includes tubeworms and, in some individuals, nuisance Aiptasia spp. Fine tune the ration as required, perhaps reducing it slightly as the fish recovers its condition. Status: Listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List. While these are not anything to worry about in terms of being contagious, they should be left alone until they clear up, usually a week or so later. The laterally compressed copperbands do not carry much in the way of excess muscle or fat, and the time from collection to arrival in a dealer’s or hobbyist’s aquarium can be rather significant. Although the various problems I will mention may not apply to every specimen of C. rostratus that arrives in the hobby, there are general issues that affect many individuals. Those strong currents mean the fish must burn more energy to hold its position in the aquarium. The Copperband Butterfly, Chelmon rostratus, also known as the Beaked Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, or Orange Stripe Butterfly. These reasons, if known, might be beyond the scope of the aquarist to fulfill, or they may remain a mystery. Does it seem pinched or thinner than the head itself? One day, all specimens might have the reputation for hardiness that is currently held by those Australian individuals. Selecting marine fish for a new aquarium is a process that should begin long before entering your local aquarium store. They should play nicely with other, peaceful tank mates but will not tolerate other butterfly fish … There seems to be a general consensus that copperbands are problematic to feed and it just goes with the territory. Scientific name Chelmon rostratus. Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2100: This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed. The Copperband Butterflyfish, is also commonly referred to as the Beaked Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, or Orange Stripe Butterfly. The copperband butterflyfish is visually very similar to the South African butterflyfish. Issues occur primarily with non-feeding specimens or with individuals given insufficient food. Physically, the Copperband Butterflyfish is a very beautiful white with copper bands running vertically on the sides of the body. Quarantine, or isolation, aquaria can be very useful in reversing the weight loss experienced by copperbands when they are recovering from the shipping process. If there is one process that can mean the difference between success and failure with the copperband, it is observation of specimens in dealers’ aquaria before purchase. That is the reason many aquarists stock this species. It can help to have a look at a number of individuals over a number of weeks before committing to buy. Thus the condition of many individuals is poor. Also, be sure to actually watch the fish feed, as in a busy aquarium, it may be outcompeted by its tankmates. Is it looking thin? Copperband Butterflyfish Large, Chelmon rostratus… The Copperband Butterflyfish, also known as the Beaked Butterflyfish, Beaked Coralfish, or Orange Stripe Butterfly, has a long, narrow nose and mouth used for hunting into crevices and holes for food. Other Names: Beaked coral fish. Understanding some of these can help aquarists avoid poor specimens with little chance of survival or increase their chances of success with this species. Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus 1758), the Copperband Butterflyfish or Beaked Coralfish. Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus, 1758) Copperband butterflyfish Add your observation in Fish Watcher. If an individual fish refuses to feed after a few days, then it is best to return it to the dealer. The principle behind this is, larger fish lose weight more slowly than smaller individuals and are, therefore, more resistant to starvation. Diet: Carnivorous in nature, they feed on benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans and tubeworms. However, if an already-skinny specimen is introduced, even if it’s feeding heartily, the provision of meager rations is unlikely to reverse the weight loss. A widespread and flexible species in its natural range, it is encountered in a variety of habitats, including the relatively murky waters found in river estuaries as well as more familiar reef environments. Although skinny individuals should ideally be ignored as potential purchases, if one arrives in your aquarium, it may require small feedings several times per day if it is to thrive. Sometimes adding a morsel of food that will hang around for a little while, allowing the copperband time to discover it away from the frenetic activity of feeding time, is useful. These can be live items, such as mysids, brine shrimp, and/or clams. For many hobbyists, that species is the beautiful-yet-enigmatic copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)—one of the most instantly recognizable, desirable, affordable, available, and wonderful fish … Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus).jpg 2,455 × 1,790; 545 KB Copperband Butterflyfish - Chelmon rostratus C H6371.JPG 2,272 × 1,712; 932 KB Copperband Butterflyfish at Aquarium of … Imports of the copperband from Australian suppliers are occasionally available and might be sold as “giant” or “Australian” copperbands—not to be confused with the Australian endemic Chelmon muelleri—another fish going by the name of Australian copperband. Provided it remains as inexpensive and available as it is currently is, it will always attract hobbyists willing to give it a home. In common with other fish species with elongated snouts and small, rather delicate-appearing mouths, it specializes in the removal of small invertebrates from cracks, holes, and crevices. 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