Copperband Butterflies and Sandbeds
Brian Ferguson
Ron, I think i just remembered that you mentioned having a CBB. Now, knowing your position on sand beds, (grin), and microfauna predators, do you find that it has a habit of thinning out the populations of the bed? Mine will spend time just cruising along the bottom, waiting for something to pop up. Just a thought I had....
Ron Shimek
Yes, mine does this, too - and has altered the species makeup of the bed, however, the numerical density appears to be the same or greater. This type of predation effectively doesn't disturb the sediments, and in fact, is normal. Low intensity predation is a fact of life on sand beds in nature. (As is "sand-sifting" predation, I have suggested that sand-sifters are fine in tanks large enough to support their predation- maybe 500 gallons or so). Basically, my copperband appears to have given my liddle sand bed a more normal appearance, and the behavior of the animals in it is more normal (suspension feeders extending after dark, etc.).
So, bottom line, yes the fish will alter the bed, but I think the changes are tolerable.
Different types of changes and different degrees of disturbance from the sand sifters.
Brian Ferguson
What is the general consensus on the smaller sand-sifting gobies or jawfish? Of course, I realize there is the general problem of getting them to eat frozen and prepared foods, and that they probably require a larger tank to provide enough natural food and territory. But, as they tend to dig a little deeper into the sand, I would expect them to also tend to limit the natural fauna. But in a deep bed, I wouldn't think of this as a serious problem. Thoughts on this?
All of this topic has been inspired by the algae probs I have been having of late in my system. The sand bed is not a cause, but the slight algae film on top is a symptom, and I have been looking for ways of keeping the top of the sand cleaner than it is now.
Ron Shimek
My thoughts are that they need a larger tank than most of us have. Some of them go quite deep into the sand and will severely whack the sand-dwelling animals. Keep in mind many of the important animals live in the upper 1-2 cm, and this region is what these fish hit hard.
The deeper areas have a different fauna, but they are dependent for their well being on the upper areas.
Now...I will be the first to tell you I would like to see someone with a deep sand bed experiment with these fish and see the effects. It is possible that they would shift the fauna in a manner similar to the copperbands. But this might work only if there were the appropriate "replacement" fauna already in the tank.
Define "deep", by your standards... ;-)
6 inches +
Scott Fleming
Is there a recommended size of a tank for a Copperband?
Or - is it based on the sandbed depth, amount of rock, and creatures who compete for the same food type?
Brian Ferguson
And of course, whether the fish accepts other food, such as bloodworms and krill. Mine eats this like a pig, and fights with the tangs for it.
Ron Shimek
The fish can get reasonably large. Mine eats a lot of frozen brine as well as picking at stuff. I don't think I would recommend one in a tank any smaller than about 75 gal, and really the bigger the better for the fish.
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