Anthias Help

[Fishtastrophy]

Hello!

I have several Anthias I'm watching in my Observation Tank, and I had one that basically withered away over the last week.

She refused to eat much of anything, although I tried a bunch of different things. She did like copepods, which I added several times, but they either didn't sustain her, or she didn't eat enough. She'd spit out other foods, frozen or not. She eventually had the spot right above her eyes start to flatten out (which I believe was related to her not eating), and eventually died today. It was pretty horrible to watch. :/

My question is if there is anything obvious about her that would suggest disease or parasites... I found a couple of *really* tiny white spots on her after she died, but in my own stupidity I had her on a paper towel and had rolled her from one side to the other in it several times as I was looking at her, so.. could be lint from the paper towel maybe. I honestly couldn't see anything with my eyes, and only saw the spots with the camera zoomed way in.

The other three are doing well.. they're eating pellets (and frozen food, and copepods.. they love it all and zip all over the holding tank to get to it.) They seem happy and plump and active.

I am trying to avoid treating them with anything unless they need it. I'm happy holding them in my observation tank for a month or longer and watching...

I also have a starfish (indian) in there right now, so I may have complicated medication anyway. I'm still fairly new to all of this (half a year or so), so looking for another set of eyes or two on the anthias with any thoughts..

Thanks..

 

[Doctorgori]

I’ve sorta been posting what I’ve seen and the heck with status quo/popularity:

IME Anthias make poor home-quarantine canidates; I got my last batch through OK, but thats not typical of the muderous and constantly hungry lil boogers...

Again, nothings written in stone, just my experience.....
...those spots: just on glance I’d give those spots a 6 or 7 outta 10 on the legit meter ...

 

[lavoisier]

It is heartbreaking to lose a fish. Those spots could be parasites and hopefully someone with more experience will wade in. I've gotten to the point that I will only acquire fish from a vendor that holds them for at least 30 days and are eating well.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I agree, anthias can be difficult to get through quarantine, but adding a fresh group to your display tank is also very risky. As you mentioned, that starfish is going to complicate any effective treatment...trouble is, you can't just move it to your DT because it would carry parasites with it. Regarding the white spots - could be parasites, but I can't tell from the picture. For future reference, one trick that works well is if you have a freshly dead fish, give the carcass a ten minute freshwater dip, let the water settle, and search through that for flukes (may need a small microscope). That way, you have a better idea as to what to do for the remaining fish.

Jay Hemdal

 

[Fishtastrophy]

Thanks! That's a great trick for any future fish that doesn't make it - I hadn't thought of that. Much appreciated!

 

[Proctor614]

Our Fathead Sunburst Anthia would only eat mysis while in qt. I thought something was wrong with her when she wouldn’t eat anything I put in over the first 48 hours, until I tried the mysis...which she gobbled like it was pure gold.