Lyretail Anthias

[Leslie Tabor]

Good morning! I have 2 lyretail anthias, which thanks to facebook's memory posts, I know I added them 1 year ago today. They have generally been the most active fish in my tank. As of late, I notice they both perch under one of my rock overhangs during the day. They come out to eat and beg for food anytime anyone goes near the tank, they are very heavy bodied, no signs of disease. No new fish in months. My clowns, watanabei, tang, and my dragonets all seem perfectly fine. Any thoughts?

 

[JTreef]

I'd say some sort of aggression. I've had the same fish for years. My clowns have decided it's time to show the tank they are the boss.
If it's not serious, it might work itself out

 

[Va_Reef]

Some people have trouble mixing angels of the genus genicanthus (your watanabeis for example) with Anthias due to similar feeding habits.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Some people have trouble mixing angels of the genus genicanthus (your watanabeis for example) with Anthias due to similar feeding habits.

Interesting, they don't seem to care but I will have to watch them. Thanks!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I'd say some sort of aggression. I've had the same fish for years. My clowns have decided it's time to show the tank they are the boss.
If it's not serious, it might work itself out

My midas and my male lyretail have always had beef!

 

[jenreefer]

Make sure they are not being light sensitive. If they are, look for disease. Have you added anything to the tank in last few weeks to month?

 

[eatbreakfast]

My midas and my male lyretail have always had beef!

This has to do with midas blennies mimicking female lyretails, so the male gives chase as if it were a female, but being a blenny, it doesn't back down.

 

[justjimarri]

I had four. They seemed great for a year, then one by one they disappeared. One went missing. One jump out the tank. So then I only had just my male and a female left. They hid in the rockwork under an over hang, the male jumps in an out to eat and the female really never left her hidding spot. This went on for about 3months before she staved to death.
Anthias are a group fish. When there is enough of them in the tank they get stressed out , lonely and scared. So maybe you just need to add a couple young females.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had four. They seemed great for a year, then one by one they disappeared. One mission. One jump out the tank. I had just my male and a female left. They hide in the rockwork under an over hang, the male jumps in an out and the female really never left her hidding spot. This went on for about 3months before she staved to death.
Anthias are a group fish. When there is enough of them in the tank they get stressed out , lonely and scared. So maybe you just need to add a couple young females.

That really depends more on tankmates. I have found squammipinnis are just fine as sole members of their species in a tank.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Make sure they are not being light sensitive. If they are, look for disease. Have you added anything to the tank in last few weeks to month?

I did change my light setting...I am really going to have to watch, so far they are both eating and they will swim around for a bit before perching again. I appreciate all the thoughts, it gives me a place to start.