Missing Anthias...

[curiousphil]

I added in a female Lyretail Anthias and a Sailfin Tang on June 29... both were out and eating right away.  The Sailfin got a bit of a rough up from the Regal Tang, but the Anthias seemed to be getting along with everyone just fine.

It was swimming around and eating, hiding occasionally.  No physical signs of ill health that I could pick up on.  Then on Sunday of this week, I noticed it was hiding a bit more.  And now it's been two days with no sign of her.  Not even coming out during food times.  I've been trying to feed her twice a day because I heard they have short digestive tracks and require frequent feedings.

Should I be worried?  Do they sometimes spend a significant amount of time hiding, perhaps when changing sex??  The only thing I can think of is that it's possibly hiding for sex change or died for some reason.  My gf said that's just how things go with fish - sometimes they die for no apparent reason.  That's not really a good enough reason for me.... looking for some input from you guys...

I'd be gutted if I lost her, I already am actually.  She was gorgeous.

 

[theyangman]

I thought I lost my purple armed lobster that I picked up a few months ago. Low and behold I found him three days ago happy as a clam, he has made a new home under some of the rocks.

I have had fish show up in weird places like overflows and sumps so have a look around.

If you have a decent clean up crew, there won't be anything left to find unfortunately.

 

[mark0933]

That anthias looks thin to me (pinched in behind the head along the back) - was it actually eating or just swimming around at feeding time mouthing and spitting out food?

Mark

 

[sunnykita]

my thoughts as well, it looks very thin as though it hadn't been eating.

 

[curiousphil]

It was eating - I feed New Life Spectrum pellets and flakes, Omega One frozen brine shrimp and mysids.  I definitely saw the lyretail eat the flakes and brine shrimp, albeit not a large amount compared to the other fish.

I think she is dead .  Just fed the tank again and no sign of her.  Fed flake and brine... her fave.  She lasted almost exactly one week.  So.... I guess this makes 2 losses total since tank setup - the anthias and cardinal #2.

 

[jroovers]

It is uncommon for a lyretail in my experience to go missing and then reappear - they like to be out in the open.  The two I've lost over the years (had 7 originally, and still have 5), both went missing never to be seen again.  That is too bad, they really are beautiful fish.  They do require an average of 2 to 3 feedings daily.  I feed mostly NLS pellets (which they took a long time to be trained to take by soaking in brine shrimp) and mysis shrimp. 

 

[davesolo29]

mine are all gone now as well.
i assume it is from underfeeding as well.

 

[mark0933]

I've unfortunately gone through my share of anthias.  The only ones I have had a long term success with were the psuedoanthias Marcia that Sea U marine gets occasionally.  They seem to not require the multiple feedings per day that others need.

Mark