My SPS & Clam Tank

[Miami Reef]

He’s eating nori and shrimp very well.

 

[Red_Beard]

He’s eating nori and shrimp very well.

Very nice! Looks reasonably healthy too!

 

[Miami Reef]

I bought 14 female anthias from Dr. Reef, and I already had a small female in tank.

3 turned into males…I have three males…

Would you ever suggest removing the extra males to leave one? It’s such a shame. I heard having too many males can be stressful for the females with all the aggression. It will be a huge shame if my anthias stock dwindled because of the males killing each other and the females along with them.

I had so much trouble getting anthias through QT. After failing so many times, I finally won by waving the white flag and buying them pre QT from Dr. Reef.

Uronema and lack of feeding? I can accept that as my fault for anthias deaths, but I’m doing everything absolutely right, and the anthias are basically about to self implode, and I can’t do anything except watch their inevitable demise?

 

[lubeck]

Have you already seen the aggression from the males? You do have a lot of females but would think at least two of the males will duke it out.

 

[Miami Reef]

Have you already seen the aggression from the males? You do have a lot of females but would think at least two of the males will duke it out.

I don’t really see much aggression between the males. The tank is so large, they can get away. When there were two, they would sometimes swoop at each other, but they were mostly docile and kept to themselves.

This new male is ruthless and feisty. It is non-stop swooping, mainly toward the females.

It’s a mess. Someone said having two males will not work out long term; one will die. Now I have 3…

It’s kind of poetic in a way. I guess I can admire and learn more about anthias behavior and hierarchy. I don’t know if any will die from this, but it would be absolutely hilarious if each female gradually turns into a male and dies until there’s the last one standing that decides to die by suicide.

My eyes involuntarily closed and dozed off while typing this. It’s 12:16 am, and I’m essentially journaling here as my night routine. I should probably stop typing, but I can’—

 

[Red_Beard]

In all seriousness i think this could indeed be another opportunity for the acquisition of knowledge you could in turn share with the audience at large here at R2R. I have likewise been interested in anthias albeit in an armchair quarterback capacity as there is no way my tank would support a group of any size worth observing, and would love the firsthand account of their long term interactions. I do not want to advocate for anything unsustainable though for those beautiful fish though. Good luck with them!

 

[jonelder68]

I don’t really see much aggression between the males. The tank is so large, they can get away. When there were two, they would sometimes swoop at each other, but they were mostly docile and kept to themselves.

This new male is ruthless and feisty. It is non-stop swooping, mainly toward the females.

It’s a mess. Someone said having two males will not work out long term; one will die. Now I have 3…

It’s kind of poetic in a way. I guess I can admire and learn more about anthias behavior and hierarchy. I don’t know if any will die from this, but it would be absolutely hilarious if each female gradually turns into a male and dies until there’s the last one standing that decides to die by suicide.

My eyes involuntarily closed and dozed off while typing this. It’s 12:16 am, and I’m essentially journaling here as my night routine. I should probably stop typing, but I can’—

Is the aggression/chasing all the time or just before lights out? Mine went through a period of chasing 20-30 minutes before lights out. Someone told me that’s usually a spawning deal? The male picks a female and then keeps all the others away. It lasted a week. Now they’re back to normal. Just a possibility from what I was told.

 

[Miami Reef]

Just got home. I still have all three males. One is hiding most of the time.

This is the newest male, I think.

It. Is. So. Aggressive. It’s nonstop and got even worse during feeding.

 

[jonelder68]

Just got home. I still have all three males. One is hiding most of the time.

This is the newest male, I think.

It. Is. So. Aggressive. It’s nonstop and got even worse during feeding.

I’d give it a few days and see if any changes. Then try acclimation box/time out for 24-48 hours. If still aggressive after probably best to rehome so far I’ve had good luck breaking bad behavior. Wishing you the same.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Do you have an auto feeder? Wondering if auto feeders on both sides of tank would help dissipate any hanger

 

[areefer01]

Do you have an auto feeder? Wondering if auto feeders on both sides of tank would help dissipate any hanger

It is not related to hunger but rather the dominate, transitioned male, controlling power and keeping the hierarchy in tact. In short, doing everything in its power to stop the younger starting to transition from becoming dominate.

Extra food won't hurt and may help the transitioned male actually as it is burning up more energy in this process. Anthias should be fed multiple times a day anyway. Heck, I feed mine hourly starting at 0830 ending at 1830 then give them all a healthy dose of frozen.

 

[Miami Reef]

Blue tang, bellus angels x2, mandarin goby male wild caught, Mccosker’s wrasse, carpenter wrasse, and fire fish goby; those are the fish that are being shipped to me tomorrow.

 

[jonelder68]

Blue tang, bellus angels x2, mandarin goby male wild caught, Mccosker’s wrasse, carpenter wrasse, and fire fish goby; those are the fish that are being shipped to me tomorrow.

wow you wasted no time on “I should get some wrasses”

 

[Miami Reef]

wow you wasted no time on “I should get some wrasses”

I swear they entered my cart on their own! I woke up with a confirmation code and an empty bottle of wine.

 

[jonelder68]

wow you wasted no time on “I should get some wrasses”

I swear they entered my cart on their own! I woke up with a confirmation code and an empty bottle of wine.

ya that will happen sometimes

 

[lubeck]

Just got home. I still have all three males. One is hiding most of the time.

This is the newest male, I think.

It. Is. So. Aggressive. It’s nonstop and got even worse during feeding.

How’s the anthias doing? Everyone eating?

I’m having similar issues.

I started with 7 female and one male in February. Lost one female during vacation in July. Another female got popeye and stopped eating and I think there is a female turning male. That’s four female now but noticed the one hasn’t come out to eat the last two days. Sickness? Nope. It came out for a second and the male attacked it. Chased it around until it found a hole to hide in. I feel helpless.

I’m wondering if more females would help?

 

[Miami Reef]

I have a lot of fish updates.

Anthias
The female with Popeyes healed completely. The 3 males are coexisting well. They were swimming together peacefully today. There’s lots of food. No anthias deaths.

New fish
I received:
blue tang
bellus angel x2
Mandarin
Carpenter wrasse x2
Mccosker’s wrasse x2
Fire fish.

Everything is perfect, except my ocellaris clownfish tried killing the blue tang, following it around the entire tank and ripping it. The tang is badly scraped. I caught and sumped both clownfish a few hours ago. I will reintroduce them in 2 weeks. No big deal.

Achilles
It’s doing excellent in QT. I added chloroquine phosphate 10mg/L and the second dose of prazi. It’s eating very well and looks excellent.

 

[Sean Clark]

Carpenter wrasse and McCosker's are very simular. Why both?

 

[Miami Reef]

Do as I say, not as I do.

I had a truck deliver NSW (natural seawater) from the Miami oceans. I drained the ENTIRE tank down to the bone. There was a water-work show from the claims squirting once they reached the low tide. The entire tank, rocks, corals, and clams were in the dry air…then fresh, NSW was flushed into the system.

Of course, I left 4” of water on the bottom so the fish wouldn’t be dried out.

There was a TON of coral slime. The water is very clean and the corals look fantastic.

 

[Miami Reef]

Carpenter wrasse and McCosker's are very simular. Why both?

I will definitely add more flashers. I didn’t think I’d enjoy them as much as I do. The more flashers, the better they will display. They looked different online, but they do seem pretty similar in person.