Lyretail Anthias nipping sps?

Znut Reefer

Znut Reefer

Premium Member
I have 10 females and one male Lyretail Anthias in my sps tank. I have noticed some nipping going on on some of my sps. Has anyone else noticed this that keep them in their sps tanks? I have been feeding them at least 3 times a day with mysis and brine shrimp. And more times on the weekends. The only other fish in the tank are 3 chromis, and a large mandrian goby. So the Anthias have to be the ones nipping the sps.
 
Wow, I've never seen that. I have seen my anthias accidentally bite gorgonian tips during the feeding frenzy that is the first feeding of the day, but that's about it.

Your last sentence sounds like you don't actually SEE them doing it, correct?
 
I sure would'nt have ever thought they would. You are right I have not seen them actually doing it. But what else could be doing it? All water parameters are fine. The corals that are being nipped are random in the tank. 3 Monti's (encrusting type) are also missing polyps, the base tissue is fine though? No monti nudi's either.
 
I would consider other possibilities (crustaceans, water issues causing "burnt" tips, etc, etc). Maybe post some pics in the SPS forum?
 
Thanks for the help. No crustaceans are present only trocus, astrea snails, no crabs. I don't believe alk is the problem holds steady at 9.0. Temp 80, mag 1400, PH 80-81. Cal 450 Some of the sps are at least 24" from lighting. And montis's are on the floor of a BB tank 29" tall. With lighting 12" from water. Tank is fully matured and at least 3 yrs old from an upgrade.

I'll keep an eye out to see if I can see which ones are nipping.
 
With all due resect, definitely look for another source for your problem. I am 100% sure it is not your anthias.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13099908#post13099908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dcmander
do you have a build thread or pics of your tank? a 550 SPS must be sweet!
Click to expand...

Thanks, no I didn't do a build thread. And no pics of the tank. I have posted a few pics of some colony's on the SPS forum. But just can't get a good pic of a 10' tank. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100128#post13100128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AuroraDrvr
Could it be the Mandarin mistaking the polyps for pods/worms?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it's not the mandrian, he has been in there for 6 yrs now.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100594#post13100594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
With all due resect, definitely look for another source for your problem. I am 100% sure it is not your anthias.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help Bangko, I never would have thought Lyretail Anthias would nip at sps. So I have watched the tank the past few days while lights were on and never saw any Anthias near the already damaged sps and monti's. Today, while lights were off. Thats when the culpit came out. Turns out it was one of the larger female Anthia's. So when feeding time tonight going to trap that one out and see if the nipping stops.
 
So what is she doing? Is she actually swimming up to the coral and biting it?? :eek: That has got to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard of in this hobby...along with the banana as fish food thing :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122355#post13122355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
So what is she doing? Is she actually swimming up to the coral and biting it?? :eek: That has got to be one of the strangest things I have ever heard of in this hobby...along with the banana thing :)
Click to expand...

Yes thats exactly what she is doing. And has done a lot of damage to a few of them. I just hope that she is the only one thats doing it. But caught her at it for sure. Guess, there are no really reef safe fish. They all have their personalities. Which can be good or bad.

I seem to have terrible luck at keeping fish in my sps tank for some reason. I have had to remove several tangs in the past for the same reason.

I know they get plenty to eat, all my fish were fat and over fed.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13122388#post13122388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
Well I never:eek1:
I should have said 99% sure:o
Click to expand...


lol... I know what you mean. Like I said I just don't have good luck with the so called reef safe fish. My sps must taste pretty good. :)
 
Hi Mark,

Yeah, I have a dussumier in my sump now. Along with a few other tangs. Just a occassional nip I can handle. But they won't stop there. :(

Keep an eye on him. The one I have is a big eater compared to the other tangs.
 
Last edited:
Yep, I noticed all the new growth on my slimer colony have flat tips and I also noticed strands of slime stringing from the same tips. No bueno :(
 
I would keep a close eye on him. Once they attack one sps they usually go for others. Seems they really like, blues, purples and efflos.

My anthia liked the Becker tort, the valdia ( I got from you) purple haze monti, rainbow monti, superman monti, e corals unknown. And now starting on the Tyree true soli.
 
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