Anthias Fighting

Auto-pilot · Aug 28, 2018

Ok I know that anthias fight if they are both male, but I bought two femail anthias and worked them into my main tank. While in my Qarantine tank they did not like each other. After a week I got my Bi-color anthia into my main tank and left the carberryi anthias in my quarantine tank to get him eating. Long story short they are both in my main tank now and both eat and I have to spot feed them because I think I'm going to have to by fish tredmills for the others if I dont. The Bi-color does not like the carberryi and has forced it into the corner where it stays and doesn't swim far from. It's been a week and they don't fight to often and the carberryi is starting to venture out a little bit but he Bi-color allways puts it back into it's place eventually. Do you guys think or have experiences to this changing and getting better or is this something that is going to continue if I don't get rid of one?? Thanks guys!!

Mikedawg · Aug 28, 2018

When some species of anthias change from female to male the "now" male will try to dominate the other anthias (not sure about different species) in the tank in order to establish a harem structure for mating purposes. Your bi-color looks like a male to me. If you had more anthias aggression would probably diffuse across all of them; with only two I suspect you won't find much change in their behavior for the forseeable future.

Auto-pilot · Aug 28, 2018

They both still have femail colors but the Bi-color is changing for sure. Will he stop being so hard on my carberryi and eventually give it some space?? Do you think the carberryi will die if I allow this to continue

Mikedawg · Aug 28, 2018

Auto-pilot said:
They both still have femail colors but the Bi-color is changing for sure. Will he stop being so hard on my carberryi and eventually give it some space?? Do you think the carberryi will die if I allow this to continue

All my experience with same species anthias suggests that a pair don't often do well together over the long term; not sure about different species.

Mikedawg · Aug 28, 2018

Might want to post a question here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...for-your-tank-post-here-and-well-help.200605/

eatbreakfast · Aug 28, 2018

There are varying degrees of aggression among anthias species. Bicolors are a more boisterous species, carberryi less so.

Regardless of whether they are male or female, anthias will always jocket for a better position in the hierarchy. With multiple specimens this aggression can be diffused among the group. With only 2, there is only a dominant fish and a subordinate fish. This will not change until there are more anthias added or one of them dies.

Auto-pilot · Aug 28, 2018

Hmmmm do you think it would be good if I added another anthias??? Was thinking maybe a barlett possibly because it is also less agressive fish. Make sure I add a female one as well

eatbreakfast · Aug 28, 2018

Auto-pilot said:
Hmmmm do you think it would be good if I added another anthias??? Was thinking maybe a barlett possibly because it is also less agressive fish. Make sure I add a female one as well

Bartletts are one of the more aggressive anthias species. Really you should add at least 3 more anthias or remove your carberryi.