Fish won't swim

[DeepBlueSeaV1]

Received a delivery of 6 lyretail anthius 4 weeks ago.

I have one lyretail who just doesn't swim. It's in QT, has gone through prazipro, copper, and metroplex, is eating, but won't swim 'open water'. Stays mainly on bottom of tank, in a 'correct' position, but doesn't really swim or dart around like all the others. When food is added, will dart a bit and eat. bit again, is not acting like a normal fish or like the other 5 that I received.

Now have 6 lyretails in the main display, I may transfer this one to main display and see how he handles the transition and being part of the school.

Thoughts?

 

[FishyDP]

I have always noticed that fish swimming activity increases with higher flow. Increased flow may entice the fish to swim, and better mimic their natural environment. I have 3 lyeretail anthias in my 150 with around 4000-4500 gph flow, and they are very active and swim everywhere.

 

[Keepswiming]

I have kept lyretails for a long time, my current pair is about three years old. What I have noticed is once they establish a pecking order, one is often picked on the most leading to stress. These fish will display ODD characteristics when stressed, such as sitting on the bottom of the tank in the sand. I took my mail from the trio and sold him for this reason. Now the large female is transitioning and the small one will occasionally sit on the bottom still. It worried me at first but she eats a ton and has been in my tank doing this for years now. As long as they are eating and no signs of illness or trauma it is probably ok. Check all the fins, as they can get NASTY towards each other.

 

[DeepBlueSeaV1]

I have kept lyretails for a long time, my current pair is about three years old. What I have noticed is once they establish a pecking order, one is often picked on the most leading to stress. These fish will display ODD characteristics when stressed, such as sitting on the bottom of the tank in the sand. I took my mail from the trio and sold him for this reason. Now the large female is transitioning and the small one will occasionally sit on the bottom still. It worried me at first but she eats a ton and has been in my tank doing this for years now. As long as they are eating and no signs of illness or trauma it is probably ok. Check all the fins, as they can get NASTY towards each other.

Interesting... Thanks.

6 'female' in the 120g main display at this point. I believe one is slowly transitioning. Whenever, I look at the tank, I can quickly count 5, but the 6th is always hiding in the rock work. Comes out at feeding times though.

When they were all in QT, it was interesting to watch them all. I never felt as though the one I've left in QT was every picked on. Matter of fact, i felt like the others were trying to coax it out of hiding. like to say "come on, like this." LOL.. One or two of them would kind of lay next to this one for a bit, then slowly swim away with pauses looking back to see if the one laying down would follow.

I'm going to transition, fins are perfect, breathing seems normal and water quality in main display is great. Plenty of rock work in the main display to hide.

 

[Keepswiming]

Interesting... Thanks.

6 'female' in the 120g main display at this point. I believe one is slowly transitioning. Whenever, I look at the tank, I can quickly count 5, but the 6th is always hiding in the rock work. Comes out at feeding times though.

When they were all in QT, it was interesting to watch them all. I never felt as though the one I've left in QT was every picked on. Matter of fact, i felt like the others were trying to coax it out of hiding. like to say "come on, like this." LOL.. One or two of them would kind of lay next to this one for a bit, then slowly swim away with pauses looking back to see if the one laying down would follow.

I'm going to transition, fins are perfect, breathing seems normal and water quality in main display is great. Plenty of rock work in the main display to hide.

I actually think it is opposite. They are going close and laying there to make sure it stays in its place by showing dominance/presence. Watch the lateral fins! Only reason I say this is because I have a tank with an eel and the fish do this exact same thing. They brush the eel and then sit by its mount to show dominance so it won't eat them, as in "I am not scared of you" haha. It is fascinating!

 

[DeepBlueSeaV1]

Go swim with your old friends. Or at least go hide in the rock work.

Just hanging out in the bottom corner exposed. Weird.

Must have been a seriously bullied fish before it was delivered or serious mental health issue.

 

[DeepBlueSeaV1]

Now that it’s in the main display and under lighting. I’m even questioning if this one was a lyretail.