Dispar Anthias not coming out

[Jase4224]

Hi guys I have 3 Dispar Anthias that have been in my tank now for a week and have stayed in the rocks the whole time. Only occasionally popping out for a few seconds at a time usually when I put food in the tank. They have not eaten yet but look fat and healthy though.

The tank is a RSRxxl750 and the only tank mates are a small copper band butterfly, small lime wrasse and small solar fairy wrasse. All are peaceful and there is no aggression. Water quality is as per reef requirements.

I’m feeding a mix of NLS and Vitalis pellets.

I just (today) put a small blue led on a timer as I don’t have lights on the tank yet so hopefully this might help with day/night cycle but it hasn’t bothered the other fish.

Any advice?

 

[Viking_Reefing]

They are most likely to shy to dare going out in the open.
A concept that’s used fairly frequently in freshwater tanks to reduce aggression or in this case to lure them out is ditter fish.

I would get something cheap, like chromis, to show them that it’s fine to venture out in the open. Usually works.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I find these the shyest of the anthias group and only come out at feeding. Been about 7 months and now always out in the open

 

[Jase4224]

They are most likely to shy to dare going out in the open.
A concept that’s used fairly frequently in freshwater tanks to reduce aggression or in this case to lure them out is ditter fish.

I would get something cheap, like chromis, to show them that it’s fine to venture out in the open. Usually works.

These ARE meant to be my dither fish lol! My two wrasses are the same size as the Anthias and always out and about, also very easy going and friendly I have seen the Anthias actually swim over to the wrasses almost as if they feel more comfortable next to them, but they soon dart back to their hiding place. Unfortunately it takes a while for me to ship fish to my location so getting a small group of chromis for this purpose is not a simple option for me but your advice is appreciated and a good idea for sure.

 

[Jase4224]

I find these the shyest of the anthias group and only come out at feeding. Been about 7 months and now always out in the open

Interesting I hadn’t heard that before about the Dispar. How long was it before yours got comfortable?

 

[suta4242]

Maybe not having a light cycle doesn’t help. Even ambient room light through a window is better than no light if it’s a dark room. They may need some time to adjust to the blue LEDs too if they’re freshly caught and unaccustomed to captivity.

But one thing that helps anthias adapt quickly is the presence of other planktivores - and it doesn’t have to be more anthias - especially when feeding. It’s up to you whether you want to do this but it makes a huge difference to how fast new fish settle in.

Edit: just noticed you’re in Perth? Are the dispars local or imported?

 

[Jase4224]

Yeah I have a light cycle now at least, they were getting ambient room light but not very much.

I got my fish from Ocean Reefs Marine, they told me they import their fish so I’m pretty sure my dispars are imported, not sure where from exactly.
#suta4242

 

[suta4242]

Well, on the positive side the imported ones are usually a better colour than the qld ones. Unfortunately they might be a bit more work.ie imported anthias sometimes arrive with diseases or flukes.

If they’re eating well they will be out once they settle in. Just make sure they eat a few times a day, even via an auto feeder and consider adding other planktivores or more small dispars.

Hth

 

[JMM744]

Mine are about 3 months old now and still very shy. Only see them when they don’t see me and food is in the water.

 

[Jase4224]

Well, on the positive side the imported ones are usually a better colour than the qld ones. Unfortunately they might be a bit more work.ie imported anthias sometimes arrive with diseases or flukes.

If they’re eating well they will be out once they settle in. Just make sure they eat a few times a day, even via an auto feeder and consider adding other planktivores or more small dispars.

Hth

I don’t think they have eaten yet, I feed a few times a day but might stand a little further from the tank from now on..

 

[Jase4224]

Mine are about 3 months old now and still very shy. Only see them when they don’t see me and food is in the water.

Wow ok that is shy

 

[suta4242]

Jase, they should be eating by now. Drop some frozen mysis or brine into the powerhead and walk away....if it turns out they really aren’t eating then maybe theres some other issue.

 

[Jase4224]

Jase, they should be eating by now. Drop some frozen mysis or brine into the powerhead and walk away....if it turns out they really aren’t eating then maybe theres some other issue.

Yeah my wife HATES the smell from frozen so I’ve avoided it, might have to get some mysis though. They seem to react to the smell of my pellets but I don’t think they recognise it or stay out long enough.

 

[JMM744]

I had to raise baby brine shrimp for mine to eat. Now they eat those and calanus. Won’t hardly touch mysis . Good luck with them.

 

[Jase4224]

I had to raise baby brine shrimp for mine to eat. Now they eat those and calanus. Won’t hardly touch mysis . Good luck with them.

I chose the dispar because I thought they were a better choice for my first anthias but maybe I was wrong! I did research and concluded that they would be easy(ish) to keep.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Yeah my wife HATES the smell from frozen so I’ve avoided it, might have to get some mysis though. They seem to react to the smell of my pellets but I don’t think they recognise it or stay out long enough.

Tell her to get over it. Freshly imported Anthias really needs a bit of love to get going and pellet foods isn’t the best option to get them eating.
You want something like brine, cyclops or mysis that will float around in the water column.

 

[Jase4224]

Tell her to get over it. Freshly imported Anthias really needs a bit of love to get going and pellet foods isn’t the best option to get them eating.
You want something like brine, cyclops or mysis that will float around in the water column.

Don’t ya know the rules mate ‘happy wife = happy life’ haha yeah I better get some frozen..

 

[JMM744]

Seems some people have luck with them but my experience has been they are more difficult to get eating. You can get calanus in cubes and just cut a cube in two and add to the tank. My hope is that yours are much better about eating then mine. They are beautiful fish up close.
Jim

 

[Jase4224]

Seems some people have luck with them but my experience has been they are more difficult to get eating. You can get calanus in cubes and just cut a cube in two and add to the tank. My hope is that yours are much better about eating then mine. They are beautiful fish up close.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I’m gonna look for a local PE dealer right now. They are absolutely stunning fish with their pink merging into orange.

 

[shred5]

Calanus, fish eggs and brine worked for me for first food. They are a planktonic fish and need very small food. I have also got them to eat mysis by chapping them small..
They are very hard to get on dry food or pellet but it can be done.

Mine never hid that long but you need to get a light over them.
Fish do not like the dark it is predator time and this is already a shy fish at first. A blue led is not enough.
The fact you do not have lighting yet seems to me your tank may not be ready for this type of fish.

Dispar and ignitus are a shy fish but they school out in the open after a few weeks when I have had them...