New Carberryi Anthias Problem

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Two weeks ago I received 6 carberryi anthias from Dr Reef (he sent an extra as I requested 5). Four are doing great. One disappeared right away to I don’t know where. Maybe onto an overflow, maybe died and eaten entirely, etc.

This thread is about the sixth one. From day 1 she has not acted normally, hugging the wall, often at the bottom, often sideways, always in the same area. She moves around some, but most often is in a bottom corner.

Most concerningly, she is not eating anything. Even foods the others eat that float right by she has no interest in.

She may have experienced a problem in transit, or something else, but at this stage she is likely to die soon from lack of food unless I can change the pattern.

Some folks commented a week or so ago in my build thread, but there didn’t seem much I could do, and I’m just looking to see if there are any last ditch possibilities.

Here are some pictures from just now when lined up high in the wall. She can be head up or face down, or flat along the bottom, so she is not always in that orientation.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Two weeks ago I received 6 carberryi anthias from Dr Reef (he sent an extra as I requested 5). Four are doing great. One disappeared right away to I don’t know where. Maybe onto an overflow, maybe died and eaten entirely, etc.

This thread is about the sixth one. From day 1 she has not acted normally, hugging the wall, often at the bottom, often sideways, always in the same area. She moves around some, but most often is in a bottom corner.

Most concerningly, she is not eating anything. Even foods the others eat that float right by she has no interest in.

She may have experienced a problem in transit, or something else, but at this stage she is likely to die soon from lack of food unless I can change the pattern.

Some folks commented a week or so ago in my build thread, but there didn’t seem much I could do, and I’m just looking to see if there are any last ditch possibilities.

Here are some pictures from just now when lined up high in the wall. She can be head up or face down, or flat along the bottom, so she is not always in that orientation.

These are the type of anthias that did the most fighting with each other for me but not the issue at hand. Shipping stress is also an issue with them and I recommend quarantine even if quarantined at purchase for 14-21 days using formalin at 37% or my choice... Ruby Rally pro
I do notice in pics, fish is thin and may have stopped eating before it was shipped

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Two weeks ago I received 6 carberryi anthias from Dr Reef (he sent an extra as I requested 5). Four are doing great. One disappeared right away to I don’t know where. Maybe onto an overflow, maybe died and eaten entirely, etc.

This thread is about the sixth one. From day 1 she has not acted normally, hugging the wall, often at the bottom, often sideways, always in the same area. She moves around some, but most often is in a bottom corner.

Most concerningly, she is not eating anything. Even foods the others eat that float right by she has no interest in.

She may have experienced a problem in transit, or something else, but at this stage she is likely to die soon from lack of food unless I can change the pattern.

Some folks commented a week or so ago in my build thread, but there didn’t seem much I could do, and I’m just looking to see if there are any last ditch possibilities.

Here are some pictures from just now when lined up high in the wall. She can be head up or face down, or flat along the bottom, so she is not always in that orientation.

Other than being a bit thin, the fish looks good.

Have you reached out to Dr. Reef? Maybe there was a premonition that one wasn’t up to par, so he added an extra one. I used to do that when I ran a mail order fish business….much easier to send a replacement upfront than to deal with it later on - for both parties.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Nothing unusual or anything.
Its just our experience and policy to ship 1 extra anthias due to the fact they normally have 1 or 2 losses during shipping and acclimation so in order to avoid additional shipping charges we rather just ship one extra.

We do that on every species we think that has a bad shipping rep.
Anthias, chromis, some gobies etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, Dr Reef. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

These are the type of anthias that did the most fighting with each other for me but not the issue at hand. Shipping stress is also an issue with them and I recommend quarantine even if quarantined at purchase for 14-21 days using formalin at 37% or my choice... Ruby Rally pro
I do notice in pics, fish is thin and may have stopped eating before it was shipped

Thanks. :)

 

[MnFish1]

Anthers can be really risky - like Discus. The rest pick on / don't let the weakest one eat - etc and it dies. Then the next weakest one dies, etc etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anthers can be really risky - like Discus. The rest pick on / don't let the weakest one eat - etc and it dies. Then the next weakest one dies, etc etc.

FWIW, that does not seem to be what is happening in my tank. :)

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Likely didnt survive due to shipping stress and or new tank stress.
They also have been through formalin bath (All our anthias do) so that also can be a factor as well.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Whenever UPS/FedEx brings me a box and there is a LIVE fish in it-- from parts of the world unknown -- I ask myself, "How did this mini-miracle happen?!?"

 

[MnFish1]

Likely didnt survive due to shipping stress and or new tank stress.
They also have been through formalin bath (All our anthias do) so that also can be a factor as well.

Hey - would you be willing to post your QT protocol? If you're done it before - could you point to that link. Most people have no problems with your fish - so I'm just curious

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Every bit of info is on our site. not hidden anywhere, right on the home page

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Same protocol mentioned on our site is administered on all fish with exception of some fish that cannot handle copper like mandarins etc. They stay in observation for 45 days.
All anthias and chromis get formalin bath.

Captive bred livestock is in a separate warehouse and it does not get any copper treatment just prazi and metro.
In out captive bred warehouse there has never been any wild livestock so there has never been any ich or velvet.

 

[cba191]

I really want some anthias in my 150g tall (15/25/30t). Is there a species you recommend more than the others? I want a peaceful tank.

 

[dwest]

I really want some anthias in my 150g tall (15/25/30t). Is there a species you recommend more than the others? I want a peaceful tank.

Just today I received 3 captive bred square back anthias from Biota for my 180 gallon mixed reef. So far so good after 3 hours

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Only anthias I can fully guarantee are lyretail and dispar, sometimes same African source has Carberri anthias too sometimes not always. If someone is willing to wait for them I can guarantee them as well.

 

[cba191]

Only anthias I can fully guarantee are lyretail and dispar, sometimes same African source has Carberri anthias too sometimes not always. If someone is willing to wait for them I can guarantee them as well.

I almost bought a swissguard from you earlier this year, but it didn't make it through qt and I was no longer able to take it when you did get more in stock. :(

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

I almost bought a swissguard from you earlier this year, but it didn't make it through qt and I was no longer able to take it when you did get more in stock. :(

Very hard to find. I have not seen them in a while now. But I'll keep my eye out for you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Somewhat to my surprise, this ailing Carberryi anthias is still hanging on despite not seeming to eat or move around much. Today is day 19 since arrival. In my nonexpert thinking, I would have though it would have starved to death by now. I still do not have much hope for it, but some interesting behaviors have been observed.

The other four anthias are thriving, and curiously, sometimes come over as a group or as individuals and hang with it for a bit. My wife calls it checking on their friend, but I personally think it is just schooling behavior. In any case, its another thing I would not have expected.