Anthias Behavior

[bigdee65]

I currently have 6 Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) in my 135g mixed reef (1 male 5 females) and they are all doing great (fat and healthy). I QT'ed them for 5 weeks before adding them to my display and they showed little to no aggression during that time period. However as of late (in my display) my male has been chasing and "dive bombing" my females constantly. There is little to no damage showing on the females and they do school from time to time but is this natural?

I know the pecking order needs to be establish but will the constant attacking pose any problems?

Looking for people with experience to share. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mikey Donuts]

Here's to resurrecting a two year old thread!

Anyone have an answer for this one as I'm facing the same thing with the two females I added today.

 

[CarlC]

Typical courting behavior.

Carl

 

[Mikey Donuts]

Thanks Carl. The females do seem stressed though (hiding in the upper corners of the tank, pale). I've got the lights off now so hopefully everything will calm down. Is this a constant thing with anthias or will the male cool off after a while?

 

[CarlC]

It is pretty constant with some species. It is also a way for the male to show his dominance over the females.

New females will almost always be singled out. They don't fit in with the female hierarchy that is already established.

My girlfriend recently added a new female to her group of Lyretails. The new female was kept on the run for the first couple of days. Now that she has been accepted by the other females she is hard to tell apart from the others. The male has slowed with his dominating also.

Carl

 

[Mikey Donuts]

Thanks a lot!

 

[ricks]

Get them a hotel room.....