Bartlett's Anthias looks sick

[shornik]

I'm not sure if this is a problem or not so thought I'd ask the collective experts here. I have two Bartlett's Anthias - 1 male, 1 female. For a while now (1-2 weeks?) I've noticed the female is swimming in a kind of vertical position at times, like she's looking at the top of the water. She seems more lethargic then normal and lately has been resting on the bottom of the tank. She eats fine, has no discernible spots or any lesions that I can see on her. I think her respiration is probably higher than normal. I originally thought this was just the result of the mail trying to spawn with her ALL THE TIME. But with her resting on the bottom of the tank I'm beginning to worry more. :sad:

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

 

[ChristopherKriens]

That doesn't sound like normal behavior, I would agree that something is wrong. A healthy female Bartlett's will be able to handle the advances of a male without issue, so he's not the cause of your problem but is almost certainly exacerbating it. Sometimes weird swim orientation is caused by a swim bladder problem- lethargy is a common side effect. Just a guess though.

 

[Humblefish]

Sometimes weird swim orientation is caused by a swim bladder problem- lethargy is a common side effect. Just a guess though.

This would be my guess as well. However, an intestinal obstruction would cause similar symptoms. Yes, fish can get constipated too.

If the fish is still eating, try feeding 1 or 2 peeled boiled green peas (same kind you & I eat). The fiber contained in the peas might help to “push things out.†It's worth a shot ... no downside to trying.

 

[Steven C]

This would be my guess as well. However, an intestinal obstruction would cause similar symptoms. Yes, fish can get constipated too.

If the fish is still eating, try feeding 1 or 2 peeled boiled green peas (same kind you & I eat). The fiber contained in the peas might help to “push things out.” It's worth a shot ... no downside to trying.

I agree i may not have had this issue in a salt water aquarium but when i had discuss fish in my fresh water planted tank they got constipated twice. You should look for maybe a little enlargement of the stomach but the rest of the symptoms would fit in. Also im not sure if it will work for saltwater but i used epsom salt it helped in a serving or two but i don't know how it works in saltwater

 

[shornik]

I'll give the peas a try, everyone else in the tank will get a good "cleaning" too I suppose. I hadn't noticed any enlargement, actually if anything I think she might be a little thinner. That's what led me to believe (in my own complete ignorance) that when she was plumper it was her eggs, is that possible?

BTW, I fed the fish about an hour ago and she was as nuts as any Anthias ever is with food, hoping that's still a positive sign.

Thanks for everyone's ideas I'll update this thread if anything changes.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Hope her behaviors are cause by nothing big. And wish you the best on this.

-YK

 

[shornik]

Thanks. Its been almost a month and nothing much has changed so I really think that she rests from the male and it isn't anything other than that. I think in the end the Anthias need a larger tank than my 60 gallon.