Getting Lyretail Anthias to Eat

[bigdee65]

I just got 6 Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) yesterday from an online vendor and ever since I put them into my QT tank (about 24 hours) they have been hiding. I got 1 male and 5 females and they are about 2 and a half inches each (except for male, he is about 3").

I tried feeding them some mysis soaked in garlic but they still would not come out of hiding. Any suggestions on getting them to come out and eat? How long can they go without food before they start to fade away? I know Anthias need to eat several times a day so I am starting to worry a little bit.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[palmer59]

You might want to try "Cyclop-eeze Freezerbar".


Mike

 

[Rendos]

How is the water quality in the QT? How big is the QT? Is there live rock or other hiding places in the QT? Maybe they are stressed...stressed fish may not eat.

 

[Julio]

give them a little bit of time, they usually feed pretty soon, they are not finicky eaters.

 

[bigdee65]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6817845#post6817845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rendos
How is the water quality in the QT? How big is the QT? Is there live rock or other hiding places in the QT? Maybe they are stressed...stressed fish may not eat.

The QT tank is 29 gallons and the water quality is in check (no ammonia, nitrites, nitrates). I run a DIY filter with bioballs in the tank run by a maxi-jet 1200 (which is also the only source of flow). I also run a Remora skimmer with MJ-1200 on the tank. There are a bunch of hiding spaces in the tank made from 1" PVC fittings and then there are 2 4" fitting in there as well. But they are hiding out behind the DIY filter where I can't see them (3 side of the QT are covered).

They are acting stressed as they are just lodging themselfs between the filter and the wall. I am going to try and feed them again tonight but this time I will get some Cyclop-eeze from my LFS and see if that works.

Thanks again for the help, besides the not eating and looking stressed the Anthias are beautiful (very rich color)

 

[tryffin]

Yea try the frozen cyclop-eeze. Mine cram themselves behind things like that too when they're sleeping. It takes them a few days to feel safe at first, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

They are a beautiful fish, and extremely friendly (once they feel at home.)

 

[pk1]

Like Julio said give them time, mine did the same, started eating about 3 days into it. Not finicky at all. They hang out in the water column constantly now.
HTH

Patrick

 

[bigdee65]

thanks guys, I will just have to wait it out!!

 

[turtlespd]

yup, ime they are pretty agressive eaters and not shy at all. Dont we wish all anthias were like lytails

 

[bigdee65]

Update:

All 6 of the fish are eating frozen mysis and frozen cyclopeeze but I can't get them to eat anything else. Any suggestions?

I have tried:
Frozen Blood worms
Formula II pellets (medium size)
OSI Spirulina(sp?) Flake

I would like to get them eating flake or pellets so I can set up a automatic feeder as its hard for me to feed multiple times a day. Any suggestions on those types of food?

 

[tryffin]

Mine will usually only eat frozen brine, mysis, and cyclopeeze. If they're really hungry they might go for a bit of freeze-dried plankton, but they're not crazy for it.

I feed them some brine in the morning before going to work, and then a mix of food in the evening and they seem to do ok.

 

[tryffin]

actually, cyclopeeze comes in powder and flake form as well, you could try one of those...

 

[Julio]

mine took a full year to eat flakes, but just keep feeding them the frozen stuff til they put on some weight, but do try the flakes, they will taste it and spit it out untilll eventually they eat it.

 

[AcroSteve]

Rendos,

Which anthia is your avatar?

 

[trottman]

taht is a female lyertail.

give the lyertails at least 3 days after online shipping for them to come out from hiding and eat. i got mine 2 weeks ago. they did the same thing, now they swim all over the tank, and eat anything.