Why are they doing this?

FishNutzBoi · 11/22/2006, 09:42 AM

I will try to give you guys the best description that I can.

2 months ago i bought 3 dispar anthias, 1 male and 2 females. All 3 were healthy and swam around fine. I fed them 2 or 3 times a day with mysis, formula 1 pellets and phytoplanktons. After like 4 or 5 days in the tank, 1 of the female went into hiding most of the time. She only swam out at feeding times and occasionally to hang out with the other. 1 week after she started hiding, she died. The night before she died, I saw some missing scales near the dorsal fin. The other two hung out together all the time for like 3 weeks.

After 3 weeks, I bought another female but this time, smaller than the other 2. She was shy on the first 2 or 3 days then came out to hang with the other 2. After 4 days though, she went into hiding, only came out for food; just like the other female. This went on for a week. 3 days ago, the other female started hiding too! What the heck? She was fine for almost 2 months and now she's starting to hide. Now both of the females are hiding, only comes out at feeding times. I have never seen any aggression from the male except for that day when I added the smaller female. He only raised his dorsal fin at her and followed her around for an hour or so. The only aggression I've seen is from the 4" blue tang. She "occasionally" chases the females but it looks harmless.

I've been feeding them 3 or 4 times/day now. A few days ago tho, I was busy so there were a couple of days when the fish didn't get anything to eat for 1 whole day.

Please help. I don't want these beautiful fish to die

11/22/2006, 09:42 AM	#1
FishNutzBoi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 541	Why are they doing this? I will try to give you guys the best description that I can. 2 months ago i bought 3 dispar anthias, 1 male and 2 females. All 3 were healthy and swam around fine. I fed them 2 or 3 times a day with mysis, formula 1 pellets and phytoplanktons. After like 4 or 5 days in the tank, 1 of the female went into hiding most of the time. She only swam out at feeding times and occasionally to hang out with the other. 1 week after she started hiding, she died. The night before she died, I saw some missing scales near the dorsal fin. The other two hung out together all the time for like 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, I bought another female but this time, smaller than the other 2. She was shy on the first 2 or 3 days then came out to hang with the other 2. After 4 days though, she went into hiding, only came out for food; just like the other female. This went on for a week. 3 days ago, the other female started hiding too! What the heck? She was fine for almost 2 months and now she's starting to hide. Now both of the females are hiding, only comes out at feeding times. I have never seen any aggression from the male except for that day when I added the smaller female. He only raised his dorsal fin at her and followed her around for an hour or so. The only aggression I've seen is from the 4" blue tang. She "occasionally" chases the females but it looks harmless. I've been feeding them 3 or 4 times/day now. A few days ago tho, I was busy so there were a couple of days when the fish didn't get anything to eat for 1 whole day. Please help. I don't want these beautiful fish to die __________________ I'm one of those reefnutz that are actually nutz. Current Tank Info: 8G Biocube, 70W SunPod, Koralia nano + Maxijet900: Mixed Reef with SPS's and no softies.