Lyretail anthias issues

[spscrackhead]

I guess I'll dive straight into it.
So I ran my anthias through qt together for a month and put them n the tank. They have been in the tank for bout a month now. Early this week I started noticing that the biggest of three females was hiding more often than normal and looking a bit thin. I observed more aggression from the male towards her than normal. It looked like she scraped into a rock or something trying I run away and I lost her 2 days ago now.
Now I noticed my male hiding all the time, he looks beat up, and I am seeing severe aggression from the larger of the now 2 females towards him. He still comes out to eat occasionally.
Just wondering what I should do. I am considering attempting to remove him and placing him in the fuge. I don't really know what to do.
The tank is a 175 display.

 

[scooter31707]

Are you sure you received 3 females and 1 male. IMO, it may be a possibility you have all females.

 

[spscrackhead]

This is a really bad photograph of him. Super did colored after being beat up and chased by the female.
This is a better representation of his typical coloration. He is not as bright as this though. Kind of a blander side of the yellow breast.


Granted I have never had this fish before nor have I experienced a transition from female to male.
But imo if he is not a male, he has been on his way to transitioning into one since I got him.

 

[spscrackhead]

This is him in the middle. Taken 2 weeks into qt on Sept 13.

 

[BlackTip]

My guess is the larger female is turning into a male. I don't have experience keeping them, but from all of the posts I have read, there are few success stories about keeping Anthias long term. To increase your chances of success, you need to keep large number of females (10+) to a one male.

Good luck,

 

[ca1ore]

I don't keep Lyretails anymore. Too aggressive and likely to pick each other off. There are more colorful, less problematic options. If you are going to keep lyres, you need a good sized group, lots of swimming room and heavy, frequent feedings.

 

[spscrackhead]

Better options like what?

I don't keep Lyretails anymore. Too aggressive and likely to pick each other off. There are more colorful, less problematic options. If you are going to keep lyres, you need a good sized group, lots of swimming room and heavy, frequent feedings.

 

[ca1ore]

Better options like what?

Carberryi, ignitus, Bartlett, or bimacs.

 

[skeeter2134]

Dispar and tricolor are also good choices. I have 10 Anthias in a 125 gallon. Usually started with 2 or 3 of each species but aggression leaves one usually the male. The 4 tricolor have been in the tank for about three months. Hoping they get along.