Anthias hiding for weeks/been fine for months

[jonelder68]

Any idea? My Anthias (dispar and ignitus) 5 of the 7 have all have been hiding for two weeks now. The first one started 4-5 weeks ago. I did a tank black out 2 weeks ago for Dino’s. 2-3 days after the blackout one by one another 4 followed into hiding. I don’t see them eating. They’re just in a trans state swimming in place. The first one I thought got hurt by ramming into a rock or something as I was daily uv sweeping my sand bed and it really freaked them out. But now I’m wondering if disease? All Anthias are from Dr. Reef as I know they usually have issues. They’ve been fine for 3-4 months before this. Afraid there’s nothing I can at this point and they will just pass away

No sign of aggression. I watch on camera also. One week a month on full moon I’m assuming it’s my male will chase the others and have even spawned. But that’s a 20-30 minute chasing right before lights out.

 

[JGT]

Hiding is not uncommon with Anthias. I have 18 and they spend a lot of time in the rocks BUT they do come out to eat. The fact that they are not eating is a concern.

 

[jonelder68]

I did install a closed loop UV in the tank at tank black out. A pump was added and flow from return. That’s really the only change. But the one that’s been hiding for weeks started before this.

For months they just swam around the upper third of tank in a shoal/group.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Looking at your rockwork it doesn’t look like there are any hiding spots, anthias need tight cracks and caves to hide in. Granted I only see half of your tank, but if a fish can’t get out of your eyesight it will be stressed.

Aggression is another possibility. Being fine for 3-4 months doesn’t mean anything. I had fish be fine together once for 3 years then one day they started to rumble. It happens.

 

[jonelder68]

Looking at your rockwork it doesn’t look like there are any hiding spots, anthias need tight cracks and caves to hide in. Granted I only see half of your tank, but if a fish can’t get out of your eyesight it will be stressed.

Aggression is another possibility. Being fine for 3-4 months doesn’t mean anything. I had fish be fine together once for 3 years then one day they started to rumble. It happens.

Ya it is lacking hiding (nsa style). There’s a few spaces the other fish love to hide. The Anthias really I’ve never seen go below the top third of the tank. They love hiding behind the overflow box usually. Two are there now actually.

Aggression I’ve never witnessed. Like I said I’ll even watch on camera away from the tank so I’m not possibly spooking them.

They’re not swimming the greatest. I’ve stuck my hand in trying to get them moving but they either kind of float to the bottom or few kicks up to surface and stay.

 

[jonelder68]

I just fed the tank and 2 of the “hiding” ones I watched closely. It seems they were trying to swim downward but almost like they couldn’t. A buoyancy problem? I don’t see any swollen swim bladders or anything.

 

[jonelder68]

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 any thoughts?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 any thoughts?

Sorry - I don't know what could cause this. If it were a disease, the only one that typically lingers like this is a chronic fluke infection, but the symptoms don't match up in terms of the hiding and not controlling their buoyancy.

You may not be seeing overt aggression, but there could still be intimidation.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ya it is lacking hiding (nsa style). There’s a few spaces the other fish love to hide. The Anthias really I’ve never seen go below the top third of the tank. They love hiding behind the overflow box usually. Two are there now actually.

Aggression I’ve never witnessed. Like I said I’ll even watch on camera away from the tank so I’m not possibly spooking them.

They’re not swimming the greatest. I’ve stuck my hand in trying to get them moving but they either kind of float to the bottom or few kicks up to surface and stay.

I have a few anthias and this seems to happen at the 3-4 year mark and as Jay mentioned, they fight and chase more than realized.
Has breathing increased or remained normal?

 

[jonelder68]

I have a few anthias and this seems to happen at the 3-4 year mark and as Jay mentioned, they fight and chase more than realized.
Has breathing increased or remained normal?

Appears normal breathing rates. Wow so Anthias are usually very short lived in our tanks?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Appears normal breathing rates. Wow so Anthias are usually very short lived in our tanks?

I have 2 at over 4 years and a remaining total of 4 from original 8. Ive seen an average of 3 years not to say their their lifespan is longer or shorter but depends on tank conditions, diet and other contributors

 

[jonelder68]

Would removing them to an observation tank be worth trying? Or from your experience once this starts they just wither away usually? I’ll try and get a video of them tonight if that’s any help? Im also just getting over a month long horrible battle with Prorocentrum Dino’s. Been running GAC though. It’s a shame I loved how much movement and life they brought to the tank for the months when they were shoaling all together.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Would removing them to an observation tank be worth trying? Or from your experience once this starts they just wither away usually? I’ll try and get a video of them tonight if that’s any help? Im also just getting over a month long horrible battle with Prorocentrum Dino’s. Been running GAC though. It’s a shame I loved how much movement and life they brought to the tank for the months when they were shoaling all together.

Moving them to a stable tank by themselves could help, but not if some of the anthias are intimidations the others, as you would just be moving the problem along with the fish.

 

[jonelder68]

Following up… I watched the tank for an hour this morning. No signs of aggression. An hour over lunch and nothing. This evening 20 minutes before lights out/tank very dim/ramping down I saw my chalk bass rush the Anthias. He hangs on the right side of the tank mostly. He would rush them and then come back from the left side going back to the right rush one more time. 3-5 minutes later would do it again. Wonder if this is the issue? When the tanks dim they do visually appear pretty similar in size and color. That’s probably not helping.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Following up… I watched the tank for an hour this morning. No signs of aggression. An hour over lunch and nothing. This evening 20 minutes before lights out/tank very dim/ramping down I saw my chalk bass rush the Anthias. He hangs on the right side of the tank mostly. He would rush them and then come back from the left side going back to the right rush one more time. 3-5 minutes later would do it again. Wonder if this is the issue? When the tanks dim they do visually appear pretty similar in size and color. That’s probably not helping.

Chalk bass can be real jerks. They seem so small and peaceful in groups out on the reef, but that seems to change in captivity. It could be intimidating the anthias.

 

[jonelder68]

Chalk bass can be real jerks. They seem so small and peaceful in groups out on the reef, but that seems to change in captivity. It could be intimidating the anthias.

Interesting did not know. I thought they were super peaceful fish. Only reason I got one as it adds no benefit to the tank otherwise. Guess I’ll try putting him in the acclimation box for a few days and see if that cures his issues.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Interesting did not know. I thought they were super peaceful fish. Only reason I got one as it adds no benefit to the tank otherwise. Guess I’ll try putting him in the acclimation box for a few days and see if that cures his issues.

Or a tank divider? Catching a chalk bass would require a lot of chasing and risk to the fish due to capture damage.

 

[jonelder68]

Or a tank divider? Catching a chalk bass would require a lot of chasing and risk to the fish due to capture damage.

He’s easy to catch. If I feed he waits at the surface/feeding hole. I hand feed him sometimes. Can literally just scoop him up by hand. If not, I’ve had good luck with my nyos fish trap catching fish.

 

[Hippopus_clam]

did separating the

He’s easy to catch. If I feed he waits at the surface/feeding hole. I hand feed him sometimes. Can literally just scoop him up by hand. If not, I’ve had good luck with my nyos fish trap catching fish

 

[Hippopus_clam]

did separating the chalk bass solve the problem?