Lethargic Anthias - no other visible symptoms

[jeffberens]

There could be aggression happening, either overnight or when the house is quiet.

I think sometimes a male ends up in a group of females where he "under-ranks" the dominant female and there needs to a changing of the guards. Sometimes the new "male" will tolerate the former. Sometimes, they don't. I think that's why I've heard it's best to get all females and let them sort it out from the start [emoji15]

Do you have a female that is larger than the rest?

I don't think that is the case because he is larger than all the females and I've never seen any aggression at all between the anthias. I have seen brief battles between the male anthias and the midas blenny. I tried to keep a close eye on it and it seemed to stop shortly after it started, but I don't know what else to think.

He has been in the hospital tank for around a week now and he still just sits in the bottom and still won't eat. he still looks ok as far as appearance so I'm puzzled.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I don't think that is the case because he is larger than all the females and I've never seen any aggression at all between the anthias. I have seen brief battles between the male anthias and the midas blenny. I tried to keep a close eye on it and it seemed to stop shortly after it started, but I don't know what else to think.

He has been in the hospital tank for around a week now and he still just sits in the bottom and still won't eat. he still looks ok as far as appearance so I'm puzzled.

Have you tried metroplex for intestinal worms? Any white-stringy poop? You could try dosing the water and see if he perks up enough to start eating again. Once he's eating, you can feed medicated food (bound with focus) for 10 days.

That's my best guess of what's wrong, since anthias are notorious for needing de-wormed

 

[jeffberens]

Have you tried metroplex for intestinal worms? Any white-stringy poop? You could try dosing the water and see if he perks up enough to start eating again. Once he's eating, you can feed medicated food (bound with focus) for 10 days.

That's my best guess of what's wrong, since anthias are notorious for needing de-wormed

I dosed for worms during his original QT, but if it won't cause any problems I will give it a try. I haven't seen any stringy poop or any poop at all for that matter as he is not eating.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I dosed for worms during his original QT, but if it won't cause any problems I will give it a try. I haven't seen any stringy poop or any poop at all for that matter as he is not eating.

You dosed metroplex or just PraziPro? Prazi is effective for some intestinal worms, but not all. Metroplex fed directly to the gut is the suggested treatment, but if he's not eating...dosing the water is the only other option.

 

[Wunderboiy]

Was this ever solved? I have an Male lyretail displaying the exact same symptoms.

 

[Wunderboiy]

Was this ever solved? I have a lyretail anthias displaying very similar behavior.

 

[DanielJameS]

Was this ever solved? I have a lyretail anthias displaying very similar behavior.

You didn’t happen to get it from Live Aquaria did you? I got one in today (Fiji Male) he’s acting really lethargic while all the other fish have settled in amazingly well. I did notice some white stringy shortly after he went into QT, so I think I’m going to start some General Cure ASAP to see if he peps up at all, i was hoping to have more time for things to settle but if it’s internal worms I’d like to nip it in the bud. He’ll sporadically come out but stays near the bottom and almost seems like he’s struggling to swim or is weak. No physical signs, breathing normal and beautiful fish. I just assumed it was settling in from shipping but it looks like more to me.

 

[Wunderboiy]

You didn’t happen to get it from Live Aquaria did you? I got one in today (Fiji Male) he’s acting really lethargic while all the other fish have settled in amazingly well. I did notice some white stringy shortly after he went into QT, so I think I’m going to start some General Cure ASAP to see if he peps up at all, i was hoping to have more time for things to settle but if it’s internal worms I’d like to nip it in the bud. He’ll sporadically come out but stays near the bottom and almost seems like he’s struggling to swim or is weak. No physical signs, breathing normal and beautiful fish. I just assumed it was settling in from shipping but it looks like more to me.

Mine was from live aquaria. He was doing great the first two weeks now for the past 3 he has been sitting around the bottom lethargically and not really eating. He’s been treated with prazi, metro, and copper. Either he’ll start eating at some point or he is going to starve to death.

 

[DanielJameS]

Mine was from live aquaria. He was doing great the first two weeks now for the past 3 he has been sitting around the bottom lethargically and not really eating. He’s been treated with prazi, metro, and copper. Either he’ll start eating at some point or he is going to starve to death.

Mines doing the same thing. I’m in the midst of GC treatment and ramping up copper. He just hides behind a piece of PVC most of the day. The last couple days he has come out more in spurts but is generally MIA. I know Anthias need a big tank, but he’s in a 4ft 33 long and the other fish from the shipment pay him no mind at all and have settled in nicely. I was under the impression single male lyretails would be fine on their own but maybe he’s stressed not being in a group of other LT’s. He doesn’t even appear to be interested in live blackworms.

 

[DanielJameS]

Was this ever solved? I have a lyretail anthias displaying very similar behavior.

Is yours in a QT or display?

 

[Wunderboiy]

Mine is still in QT, need to complete the copper treatment (which I delayed because of his strange behavior) before I would consider moving him over.

 

[Wunderboiy]

I’m keeping mine in QT until I finish copper which I had to delay because of his strange behavior

 

[DanielJameS]

I’m keeping mine in QT until I finish copper which I had to delay because of his strange behavior

Ditto. Is it Fiji or Indonesia? I swear every time I see strange swimming behavior like this I worry about Cyanide poisoning. [emoji58]

 

[3mm3]

Was this ever solved? I have a lyretail anthias displaying very similar behavior.

Mines doing the same thing. I’m in the midst of GC treatment and ramping up copper. He just hides behind a piece of PVC most of the day. The last couple days he has come out more in spurts but is generally MIA. I know Anthias need a big tank, but he’s in a 4ft 33 long and the other fish from the shipment pay him no mind at all and have settled in nicely. I was under the impression single male lyretails would be fine on their own but maybe he’s stressed not being in a group of other LT’s. He doesn’t even appear to be interested in live blackworms.

My male is doing the exact same thing. Was seriously thinking of getting a group of females to see if he changes this behavior. I cant get him to eat like normal fish. Just sits on the sand and shows interest but absolutely refuses to swim and get it.. I literally have to hand feed him every single day.

 

[Wunderboiy]

Ditto. Is it Fiji or Indonesia? I swear every time I see strange swimming behavior like this I worry about Cyanide poisoning. [emoji58]

Indian Ocean (maldives)

 

[DanielJameS]

My male is doing the exact same thing. Was seriously thinking of getting a group of females to see if he changes this behavior. I cant get him to eat like normal fish. Just sits on the sand and shows interest but absolutely refuses to swim and get it.. I literally have to hand feed him every single day.

Is yours also from L.A.? What size tank is it in?

 

[3mm3]

Is yours also from L.A.? What size tank is it in?

Mine is not from live aquaria. He is in my red Sea 650l.
Fish with him are 1 filefish, 1 red margin wrasse, 1 foxface, 1 mimic tang and 1 yellow tail damsel. They all completely ignore him. My coral banded shrimp even ignores him and I'm clueless as to how that relationship worked out.

 

[DanielJameS]

Yeah I was kind of hoping that he was taking extra long to settle in but given the above posters situation, treating with almost the exact same regimen having the same issue 5 weeks later, I’m not so optimistic...

 

[3mm3]

Yeah I was kind of hoping that he was taking extra long to settle in but given the above posters situation, treating with almost the exact same regimen having the same issue 5 weeks later, I’m not so optimistic...

I purchased mine in June from a local store. Here is some of my early adventures with him..
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lyretail-anthias-treatment-question.423597/


I am trying to train him to swim with the other fish during feedings by leading him with food in front of him..

 

[DanielJameS]

I purchased mine in June from a local store. Here is some of my early adventures with him..
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lyretail-anthias-treatment-question.423597/


I am trying to train him to swim with the other fish during feedings by leading him with food in front of him..

Wow you’ve definitely put the effort in. I don’t have any experience QT’ng Anthias and only know what I see at my LFS, and what I’ve read about it. Despite reading multiple accounts where folks have kept a single male happily, I’m starting to wonder if it’s just one of those fish who frets or doesn’t eat by itself when not in a school or group like a PBT, or Moorish, or certain butterflies often do. I figured being in the presence of other fish as opposed to alone in QT would help.

He comes out of hiding but you can tell he wants out. Swims up looking at the corners, or against the glass, makes me sad and a bit guilty. Had I known they were this finicky I would probably not have given one a shot. His behavior is more akin to a lazy Goby who occasionally swims up the glass from time to time.