Dispar anthias not eating

[Ryan03]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my first school of 3 Anthias (Dispar). They are placed in a 20 gallon long QT tank along with a schooling bannerfish before going into the reef. Unfortunately one of them (the one in the picture) has been hiding under the sponge filter ever since I added them 4 days ago. Although all the other fish are eating fine (knock on wood) this one seems to be struggling and I haven’t really seen it eat. (I want to have it eating before starting copper treatment) It’s laying on it’s side, breathing heavily, has been hiding and I’m not sure why but it’s eyes look a bit weird. I have good oxygenation in the tank (ac20 hob, sponge filter connected to a 44gph air pump, and a wavemaker at the surface). Chatgpt suggested I add Kannaplax but I’m not sure if that’d be a good idea since the other fish in the QT don’t show any symptoms. Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have done multiple 20% water changes and the qt was setup with seeded media from the main reef display.

Parameters:

Ammonia
1.0ppm with api test kit
Safe/ yellow with ammonia alert badge

Nitrite
0ppm with api test kit

Nitrate
5ppm with api test kit

Salinity
1.025-1.026
(Store had them at 1.018 but I drip acclimated for 2hrs)


Sorry for the bad quality images I really had to zoom in.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my first school of 3 Anthias (Dispar). They are placed in a 20 gallon long QT tank along with a schooling bannerfish before going into the reef. Unfortunately one of them (the one in the picture) has been hiding under the sponge filter ever since I added them 4 days ago. Although all the other fish are eating fine (knock on wood) this one seems to be struggling and I haven’t really seen it eat. (I want to have it eating before starting copper treatment) It’s laying on it’s side, breathing heavily, has been hiding and I’m not sure why but it’s eyes look a bit weird. I have good oxygenation in the tank (ac20 hob, sponge filter connected to a 44gph air pump, and a wavemaker at the surface). Chatgpt suggested I add Kannaplax but I’m not sure if that’d be a good idea since the other fish in the QT don’t show any symptoms. Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have done multiple 20% water changes and the qt was setup with seeded media from the main reef display.

Parameters:

Ammonia
1.0ppm with api test kit
Safe/ yellow with ammonia alert badge

Nitrite
0ppm with api test kit

Nitrate
5ppm with api test kit

Salinity
1.025-1.026
(Store had them at 1.018 but I drip acclimated for 2hrs)


Sorry for the bad quality images I really had to zoom in.

Can you get clearer pictures, or better yet, a video of the fish? I agree, its eye(s) look bad.

While API ammonia tests are difficult to read, if you are getting a 1 ppm reading, I think you should confirm that with another brand of test - does your LFS have a different test they could use?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my first school of 3 Anthias (Dispar). They are placed in a 20 gallon long QT tank along with a schooling bannerfish before going into the reef. Unfortunately one of them (the one in the picture) has been hiding under the sponge filter ever since I added them 4 days ago. Although all the other fish are eating fine (knock on wood) this one seems to be struggling and I haven’t really seen it eat. (I want to have it eating before starting copper treatment) It’s laying on it’s side, breathing heavily, has been hiding and I’m not sure why but it’s eyes look a bit weird. I have good oxygenation in the tank (ac20 hob, sponge filter connected to a 44gph air pump, and a wavemaker at the surface). Chatgpt suggested I add Kannaplax but I’m not sure if that’d be a good idea since the other fish in the QT don’t show any symptoms. Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have done multiple 20% water changes and the qt was setup with seeded media from the main reef display.

Parameters:

Ammonia
1.0ppm with api test kit
Safe/ yellow with ammonia alert badge

Nitrite
0ppm with api test kit

Nitrate
5ppm with api test kit

Salinity
1.025-1.026
(Store had them at 1.018 but I drip acclimated for 2hrs)


Sorry for the bad quality images I really had to zoom in.

These guys fight often
Please provide video under white lighting, no blue

 

[Ryan03]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my first school of 3 Anthias (Dispar). They are placed in a 20 gallon long QT tank along with a schooling bannerfish before going into the reef. Unfortunately one of them (the one in the picture) has been hiding under the sponge filter ever since I added them 4 days ago. Although all the other fish are eating fine (knock on wood) this one seems to be struggling and I haven’t really seen it eat. (I want to have it eating before starting copper treatment) It’s laying on it’s side, breathing heavily, has been hiding and I’m not sure why but it’s eyes look a bit weird. I have good oxygenation in the tank (ac20 hob, sponge filter connected to a 44gph air pump, and a wavemaker at the surface). Chatgpt suggested I add Kannaplax but I’m not sure if that’d be a good idea since the other fish in the QT don’t show any symptoms. Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have done multiple 20% water changes and the qt was setup with seeded media from the main reef display.

Parameters:

Ammonia
1.0ppm with api test kit
Safe/ yellow with ammonia alert badge

Nitrite
0ppm with api test kit

Nitrate
5ppm with api test kit

Salinity
1.025-1.026
(Store had them at 1.018 but I drip acclimated for 2hrs)


Sorry for the bad quality images I really had to zoom in.

Can you get clearer pictures, or better yet, a video of the fish? I agree, its eye(s) look bad.

While API ammonia tests are difficult to read, if you are getting a 1 ppm reading, I think you should confirm that with another brand of test - does your LFS have a different test they could use?

My LFS also uses api. My ammonia alert badge is reading safe so I’m not sure

 

[Ryan03]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my first school of 3 Anthias (Dispar). They are placed in a 20 gallon long QT tank along with a schooling bannerfish before going into the reef. Unfortunately one of them (the one in the picture) has been hiding under the sponge filter ever since I added them 4 days ago. Although all the other fish are eating fine (knock on wood) this one seems to be struggling and I haven’t really seen it eat. (I want to have it eating before starting copper treatment) It’s laying on it’s side, breathing heavily, has been hiding and I’m not sure why but it’s eyes look a bit weird. I have good oxygenation in the tank (ac20 hob, sponge filter connected to a 44gph air pump, and a wavemaker at the surface). Chatgpt suggested I add Kannaplax but I’m not sure if that’d be a good idea since the other fish in the QT don’t show any symptoms. Any suggestions on what I should do?
I have done multiple 20% water changes and the qt was setup with seeded media from the main reef display.

Parameters:

Ammonia
1.0ppm with api test kit
Safe/ yellow with ammonia alert badge

Nitrite
0ppm with api test kit

Nitrate
5ppm with api test kit

Salinity
1.025-1.026
(Store had them at 1.018 but I drip acclimated for 2hrs)


Sorry for the bad quality images I really had to zoom in.

These guys fight often
Please provide video under white lighting, no blue

 

[vetteguy53081]

This may be from aggression
Is fish eating and breathing normal?

 

[Ryan03]

This may be from aggression
Is fish eating and breathing normal?

The other 2 anrhias and the bannerfish are eating and breathing normally. This one isn’t.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The other 2 anrhias and the bannerfish are eating and breathing normally. This one isn’t.

Do you have an acclimation box to place it in?
Im not a fan of ammonia alert badge as They are known for false readings and also work for freshwater. I suggest taking a water sample to an LFS that does not use API tests and see what readings they come up and to compare with yours while I dont believe this is a water quality issue

 

[Ryan03]

The other 2 anrhias and the bannerfish are eating and breathing normally. This one isn’t.

Do you have an acclimation box to place it in?
Im not a fan of ammonia alert badge as They are known for false readings and also work for freshwater. I suggest taking a water sample to an LFS that does not use API tests and see what readings they come up and to compare with yours while I dont believe this is a water quality issue

Okay thank you so much.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Okay thank you so much.

Sorry, I was offline for the night….how is the fish this morning?

I’m suspicious if your ammonia badge is reading properly, and it does seem a bit green for a “zero” reading. Still, if it was only the ammonia, the other anthias , being in the same water should show similar symptoms.

I do agree that this one is being bullied by the other anthias. A tank divider or a large isolation box with some hiding places would help.

Then, with anthias, it’s very common for one or two in a group just not thrive.