Dispar Anthias

erich1980

Member
Hello,
I have bought a group of Anthias a few weeks ago. Problem is that only 4 of them are swimming as a group. Rest of them is laying on the bottom all the time. Does anybody of you know what could be the reason?
 
I have been keeping Dispar for the past 20 months. I have usually 1 or 2 groups (have kept groups of 8-120) I ended up with a couple of males, and each male slept on a different side of the tank with a group of females. But during the day they all swim together.

In my tank the Anthias are either swimming or hide in the rocks. My tank is bare bottom, and I have yet to see them on the bottom.

Dave B
 
Current situation

Current situation

Sorry for late reply,

3 large Dispars are swimming well as a group and one is still laying (touching the ground) on the bottom. He is rather lazy and I do not see him gracing well. I have lost 4 large Dispards so far so there was a total 7 of them.

I have bought 3 Carberyi Anthias 2 weeks ago and two of them are laying in other corner but raising up when feeding time. They are eating a lot. Both are approx 4 inch long. One unfortunately passed cause of unknown reason.

I have bought 11 small Dispars (1 inch long) last friday and they behave great so far swimming as a large pad together with mentioned 3 large ones.

What do you think about it?

Buying 3 more Carberyi may result with activation of those two?

Find below link to movie recorded last friday a few hours after adding bunch of small Dispars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfhgkaRRZko&feature=youtu.be

Greetings,
Peter
 
Looks like stress from lack of hiding places and other large, aggressive fish. I don't think adding more would solve the problem. Beautiful tank and fish btw.
 
Hi Erich1980,

While not a true expert I have been doing a huge amount of research about anthias in general and Dispar (among a few) in particular. Wrott has a very good point. It's not only about aggression. It's about the comfort the fish feel. In the wild anthias school in the water column very close to large coral heads with loads of hiding places, including between the branches of coral. In the photos I have seen the fish are usually beside the hiding areas, not above. Your tank, beautiful and healthy, has densely packed corals on the bottom, with free swimming room above populated by several large and extremely active fish. I think I saw 4 good sized tanks, one of which looked like a salad plate. So behaviorally the only place to hide is on the bottom, behind rock, which is where most are. Despite no aggression, the anthias likely perceive the space above the coral as very dangerous. So I guess what I am suggesting is that if you want to keep these fish some new landscaping might be helpful.

Good luck with them!
 
JoelA7 - Thank you,

Your remarks noted and highly appreciated - you have got a lot of sense in your points.

I hope the landscape will evolve by itself - seriatoporas and montiporas are climbing incredibly fast.

The problem seems to be only with 2 Carberyi and 1 Dispar. 14 Dispars are doing stunning job occupying upper column. They did find a cave where all are gathering when light is off - it is nice picture as well.

The last point - I took Carberyi which were the most beautiful from all in the live stock store but they were lying in the bottom there as well. Perhaps If I would take a smaller, swimming, more active ones than situation might be different?

Greetings,
Peter
 
i see that in the 2nd vid.. nice looking tank.
the 3 or so that cower do they feed?
most seem to be hovering in the water column like they should.
 
Yes mate, two of them (Carberyi - however I am not sure what kind they really are - those on the left side of the tank, perhaps you would assist with id) are raising and getting active while feeding time. On the other hand they do not approach open upper half of the water column.
My impression is that perhaps their number is not sufficient to make them more comfortable among others...

The on on the right side is feeding much less actively and he is taking food only from direct vicinity of his mouth. After few weeks my observation is that it might be male who is being degraded by the one in charge...

11 small Dispars are doing great. Sadly a few days ago I had found one of them dead, but still 10 remaining seem to work.

Outstanding question to you as Anthias specialists - how frequently I really have to feed them? Do not tell me as often as possible:D

Thx for all your attention
 
looks like they have some yellow on top so could be carberryi.
im by far any expert with these fish just started keeping them myself.
regarding feeding, what i have read seems to be a minimum of 2 feedings. if they are young then 3 is preferable.
how much to feed is something im still figuring out.
yoiu must dump a boat load of food in that tank as it is.
 
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