Aggression when adding new anthias to established female

[holdyourlight]

I have had a lone female bicolor anthias in my tank for a couple months. I added 6 females 24 hours ago, all smaller than her. She is very aggressive towards the newcomers and has had them corralled in one corner of the tank. If one tries to leave she dive bombs them or chases them all around the tank until they are back in their corner.

I just wonder if this is normal behavior, as i have never added anthias in this manner before, and am just wondering what to expect and what the potential outcome of this is. Will the aggression subside in a few weeks when she gets used to them? Will it subside when she transforms into a he?

 

[Shaummy]

I'm guessing that they will need to establish a pecking order between the existing fish and the newcomers.

Keep any eye on them, hopefully the stress on the new fish will start to easy.

Are they able to get away enough to feed?

 

[TankStudy]

Is their any physical displays by your larger one?

Aggression should die down significantly once dominance is sorted out. Its not uncommon for the initial aggressive behavior. Sometimes it only lasts a few days, others it may take a week or two.

Just make sure that the "supposed" dominant female is not actually trying to kill them. This can sometimes be determined if the dominant female is just randomly chasing them without physical displays.

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

It's how they establish dominance.

Also: If the female is in the process of turning male (like most larger females do), then she will continue this behavior while she is in transition to keep the newcomers from turning male. My experience has sometimes actually resulted in her killing the female newcomer, so keep an eye on things. When things start to get rough, turn off the lights for a while. If she persists, you may consider trading her in on an already established male...

Anthias are an interesting species. Check out this article. It's a long read, but worth it...
http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...mlEik&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...qSJqB&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...:Izsg&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...9Esus&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...bjqW5&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

Best of Luck!!!

 

[holdyourlight]

I'm guessing that they will need to establish a pecking order between the existing fish and the newcomers.

Keep any eye on them, hopefully the stress on the new fish will start to easy.

Are they able to get away enough to feed?

Not yet. They were eating pellets before so they should be fine for a while. they are stressed from the existing anthia and the tank move.

Is their any physical displays by your larger one?

Aggression should die down significantly once dominance is sorted out. Its not uncommon for the initial aggressive behavior. Sometimes it only lasts a few days, others it may take a week or two.

Just make sure that the "supposed" dominant female is not actually trying to kill them. This can sometimes be determined if the dominant female is just randomly chasing them without physical displays.

By physical displays you mean flashing? She is definitely flashing most of the time she is chasing them.

It's how they establish dominance.

Also: If the female is in the process of turning male (like most larger females do), then she will continue this behavior while she is in transition to keep the newcomers from turning male. My experience has sometimes actually resulted in her killing the female newcomer, so keep an eye on things. When things start to get rough, turn off the lights for a while. If she persists, you may consider trading her in on an already established male...

Anthias are an interesting species. Check out this article. It's a long read, but worth it...
http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...mlEik&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...qSJqB&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...:Izsg&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...9Esus&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.co...bjqW5&method=and&af=cat1:articles&isort=score

Best of Luck!!!

thanks, i have seen that article a few times and browsed bits and pieces not sure if i have read the whole thing. guess i'll give it a few weeks and hope it works out, otherwise i see a fish trap in my future

 

[holdyourlight]

Just wanted to update this. They worked out a pecking order in a couple weeks. All are still alive and thriving and aggression issues have subsided

 

[9thwonder]

Thanks for updating us

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

This is good to see. Glad things worked out.