Lyretail Anthias nipping sps?

[Znut Reefer]

I have 10 females and one male Lyretail Anthias in my sps tank. I have noticed some nipping going on on some of my sps. Has anyone else noticed this that keep them in their sps tanks? I have been feeding them at least 3 times a day with mysis and brine shrimp. And more times on the weekends. The only other fish in the tank are 3 chromis, and a large mandrian goby. So the Anthias have to be the ones nipping the sps.

[SDguy]

Wow, I've never seen that. I have seen my anthias accidentally bite gorgonian tips during the feeding frenzy that is the first feeding of the day, but that's about it.

Your last sentence sounds like you don't actually SEE them doing it, correct?

[Znut Reefer]

I sure would'nt have ever thought they would. You are right I have not seen them actually doing it. But what else could be doing it? All water parameters are fine. The corals that are being nipped are random in the tank. 3 Monti's (encrusting type) are also missing polyps, the base tissue is fine though? No monti nudi's either.

[SDguy]

I would consider other possibilities (crustaceans, water issues causing "burnt" tips, etc, etc). Maybe post some pics in the SPS forum?

[Znut Reefer]

Thanks for the help. No crustaceans are present only trocus, astrea snails, no crabs. I don't believe alk is the problem holds steady at 9.0. Temp 80, mag 1400, PH 80-81. Cal 450 Some of the sps are at least 24" from lighting. And montis's are on the floor of a BB tank 29" tall. With lighting 12" from water. Tank is fully matured and at least 3 yrs old from an upgrade.

I'll keep an eye out to see if I can see which ones are nipping.

[dcmander]

do you have a build thread or pics of your tank? a 550 SPS must be sweet!

[AuroraDrvr]

Could it be the Mandarin mistaking the polyps for pods/worms?

[stanlalee]

mine never nipped at anything that wasn't dropped into the water column. no issues with that at all.

[BangkokMatt]

With all due resect, definitely look for another source for your problem. I am 100% sure it is not your anthias.

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13099908#post13099908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dcmander
do you have a build thread or pics of your tank? a 550 SPS must be sweet!

Thanks, no I didn't do a build thread. And no pics of the tank. I have posted a few pics of some colony's on the SPS forum. But just can't get a good pic of a 10' tank. :)

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100128#post13100128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AuroraDrvr
Could it be the Mandarin mistaking the polyps for pods/worms?

Pretty sure it's not the mandrian, he has been in there for 6 yrs now.

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100594#post13100594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
With all due resect, definitely look for another source for your problem. I am 100% sure it is not your anthias.

Thanks for the help Bangko, I never would have thought Lyretail Anthias would nip at sps. So I have watched the tank the past few days while lights were on and never saw any Anthias near the already damaged sps and monti's. Today, while lights were off. Thats when the culpit came out. Turns out it was one of the larger female Anthia's. So when feeding time tonight going to trap that one out and see if the nipping stops.

[SDguy]

So what is she doing? Is she actually swimming up to the coral and biting it?? :eek: That has got to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard of in this hobby...along with the banana as fish food thing :)

[BangkokMatt]

Well I never:eek1:
I should have said 99% sure:o

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122355#post13122355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
So what is she doing? Is she actually swimming up to the coral and biting it?? :eek: That has got to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard of in this hobby...along with the banana thing :)

Yes thats exactly what she is doing. And has done a lot of damage to a few of them. I just hope that she is the only one thats doing it. But caught her at it for sure. Guess, there are no really reef safe fish. They all have their personalities. Which can be good or bad.

I seem to have terrible luck at keeping fish in my sps tank for some reason. I have had to remove several tangs in the past for the same reason.

I know they get plenty to eat, all my fish were fat and over fed.

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122388#post13122388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
Well I never:eek1:
I should have said 99% sure:o


lol... I know what you mean. Like I said I just don't have good luck with the so called reef safe fish. My sps must taste pretty good. :)

[mpoletti]

Its ok Fonda, I watched my dussumier nip at my slimer today. :(

[Znut Reefer]

Hi Mark,

Yeah, I have a dussumier in my sump now. Along with a few other tangs. Just a occassional nip I can handle. But they won't stop there. :(

Keep an eye on him. The one I have is a big eater compared to the other tangs.

[mpoletti]

Yep, I noticed all the new growth on my slimer colony have flat tips and I also noticed strands of slime stringing from the same tips. No bueno :(

[Znut Reefer]

I would keep a close eye on him. Once they attack one sps they usually go for others. Seems they really like, blues, purples and efflos.

My anthia liked the Becker tort, the valdia ( I got from you) purple haze monti, rainbow monti, superman monti, e corals unknown. And now starting on the Tyree true soli.

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122776#post13122776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Znut Reefer
My anthia liked the Becker tort, the valdia ( I got from you) purple haze monti, rainbow monti, superman monti, e corals unknown. And now starting on the Tyree true soli.

Wait, are we talking about Pseudanthias squamipinnis? I suppose I could see it being able to bite a tip of a branch, but how is a fish with a gulping type mouth eating flat encrusting montis?

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122857#post13122857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
how is a fish with a gulping type mouth eating flat encrusting montis?

Fonda gets really good PE :D

[Znut Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122857#post13122857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
Wait, are we talking about Pseudanthias squamipinnis? I suppose I could see it being able to bite a tip of a branch, but how is a fish with a gulping type mouth eating flat encrusting montis?

These are the Orange female Lyretail Anthias for sure. It is mainly going for the tips of the acros and the polyps on the monti's. If I can get time tonight with lights on I'll get a few pics to post here.


Marks right I do get lots of PE on my sps. :D