And then there were 2

meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Well...I finally got my lyretail anthias....a few weeks ago I got 2 females and a male....the male died, I got a credit, and as soon as they came back in stock I got 3 females....now I have 5 YAYYY errr HAD :(
Well a few days ago, I noticed there were only 3...hmmmm.....NO TRACES anywhere....I do have a good cuc though...and I figured...well something happened to them
TODAY...there are only 2
....and yesterday they were all swimming around fine....AGAIN....no traces
This morning my husband watched me feed the new pink tube anemone, and after watching it GRAB a scallop and quickly maneuver it into it's "mouth" he said..."I bet they could eat a fish pretty easily"
IS IT POSSIBLE? is my new $80 tube anemone having $30 fish for midnight snacks

ANYONE have any ideas?????
I might be rethinking getting the purple tube
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
So you think they are killing each other off????? And if I want to keep them I should have at least 7???
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
No direct experience with them here. Only what I have read. They seem to be hard to keep in a group. They are schooling fish out in the wild as that article said but perhaps our tanks are not large enough to overcome the aggression.
Let's see what some others have to say on the subject.
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
I think a sting from the anemone could be a likely cause, it may not have consumed the fish, but could have led to its demise and fed your CUC. Do you use a good nite light? or is it pretty dark near the anemone.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have good led's for nighttime so it is never really dark.....the anemone is in the front, and the anthias tend to hang out towards the back...especially at night....
 
t316

t316

Active Member
My bet is with Henry. I tried them once (had 5 I believe), and just like Chromis they slowly picked themselves off one by one. Can't remember what happened to the last one, probably died from exhaustion after dealing with the others.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3256863
My bet is with Henry. I tried them once (had 5 I believe), and just like Chromis they slowly picked themselves off one by one. Can't remember what happened to the last one, probably died from exhaustion after dealing with the others.
That sux......They are so beautiful too......Maybe I'll get lucky and these 2 will survive
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
Have you noticed them being aggressive towards each other? I would think you would have noticed them picking.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by IbanEz
http:///forum/post/3256876
Have you noticed them being aggressive towards each other? I would think you would have noticed them picking.
NOPE....but who knows what happens after I go to bed...LOL....or while I am at work

I thought they all loved each other
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Yea, I really don't think a tube anemone can grab/kill a healthy fish, esp. a decent swimmer like an anthias. It very well could dispose of the dead bodies though. My LT plate had most of a Dispar anthias consumed.
If there is high aggression, that certainly could be a cause. I know my Lyretails are extremely hard on new additions in my reef. However, if it's not that, honestly I would just chalk it up to them being a $19 saltwater fish. With the obvious exception of extremely hardy fish, damsels, Humu triggers, etc, most fragile to semi-fragile fish have poor survival rates. Places have Lyretails for $9 and they usually are treated as such. Not saying SWF does, but there supplier beforehand, etc.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I have had 3 anthias, lyretails... FOREVER. I have the same three that I have had for... gosh, I dk. About a year.
They are hardy fish, AFTER the adjustment period. After about 3 weeks, they should be golden. But they are also easily bullied and they are easily stressed.
I have a few books on them...
1 says "they can become aggressive in smaller aquariums (less than 100 gallons) and that they will occasionally compete for the spot of the dominant male. During this stage is when death or serious injury can occur.
Mine have never done this. I bought 2, then 1 changed and then I bought 1 more female. All is well and mine are in a 55 long aquarium (about to be in a 150.)
Don't you have yours in a 225? I seriously doubt that they would be killing each other off in there. They are very susceptible to ich and other stress induced illness. My bet is that they were getting picked on and it just over stressed them.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
My fish sit on the tube anemone all the time. No, I don't believe they stung, killed or ate your fish. We've had our beast for like 8 years or more.
Lyretails are hardy, but only after they are acclimated. A lot of people have difficultly acclimating harems.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3256925
My fish sit on the tube anemone all the time. No, I don't believe they stung, killed or ate your fish. We've had our beast for like 8 years or more.
Lyretails are hardy, but only after they are acclimated. A lot of people have difficultly acclimating harems.
SIGHHHHH....So I will keep the purple tube on my wish list then......I just wish I knew what was really going on....I have seen nothing :(
 
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