Lyretail anthias question

[wd11001]

Hello

I bought three lyretails about a week ago. I believe they are all female (orange) so far.

They have been fine. All eating very well. There is some aggression with my red flame angel, whose personality sucks. But it is usually fine.

Today, one of the anthias is hiding in a rock. He did come out to eat and ate well. He seems to swim fine and I do not see any rapid breathing. I did notice a small nip in his rear fin a day or two ago. But it may have been there when I bought it.

Tank mates:
Red flame
2 Oce clowns
3 blue/green chromis
1 cleaner shrimp

92 gallon corner with about 50lbs of LR

Nitrates:5
Nitrite: 0
Sal 1.023-1.025
Ammonia: 0
pH: 8.2

Is the fish maybe morphing to female? They are all close in size. Sick? Scared? Typical?

I added a new 750/850 powerhead two days ago to help with diatoms on the sandbed. Maybe the fish doesnt like the flow? I cant figure out the best place for the PHs. I have a 750/850 on the left side pointed to the surface for oxygenation. Another on that side pointed mid tank. And a small 350 on the other side pointed at rocks (I ordered a 750/850 to replace that).

He popped out, swam around. Went back.
I noticed he had a large poop coming out when he came to eat before. Could he be looking for privacy to try to get some out of him? Or am I reading too far in?

Here is a pic of the crew...

 

[tom obrecht]

Could be the flame but my guess another of the Anthias. Not sure what size tank but Anthias will have a pecking order and I think you found out who's at the bottom. Lyre tails can be pugnacious but not as bad as others.

 

[wd11001]

Could be the flame but my guess another of the Anthias. Not sure what size tank but Anthias will have a pecking order and I think you found out who's at the bottom. Lyre tails can be pugnacious but not as bad as others.

Will this lead to its ultimate demise or is he just gonna be a wimpy fish?

 

[tom obrecht]

Depends. If you are feeding numerous times a day it might sneak by. Otherwise it will probably perish. You might want to post in the reef fish forum or check out numerous anthias threads there. Lots of info.

 

[dave.m]

It's the other way around. They should be all females. If they're all males they'll kill each other off until only one remains.

There can be only one.

The one anthias may be turning into a male. It will start to show different markings depending on the type of anthias.

It could be aggression from another anthias or the flame angel that is causing the one anthias to hide, but don't count out aggression from one of the chromis. They are often quite savage if they feel too constricted by the size of your tank.

Dave.M

 

[SS_Sean]

My anthias (hutchii and purple queen) hide all the time. they will do it for no particular reason.