Male anthia hiding for a week?

[SaltieG]

I have a male and female anthia which I have had for about 6 months. They eat a lot and are normally very active. About a week ago I noticed my male was missing and I found him perched on a rock within my rock structure. He appeared to be fine and wasn't laying there or breathing heavy so I figured whatever he will come out eventually. Well it's been a week and he is still in that spot and hasn't come out to eat or anything. The other anthia is swimming about the tank as normal. I don't know if he is on his way out or maybe protecting something? Has anyone noticed this sort of behavior?

 

[ca1ore]

Not unusual for a new fish, but concerning in an established one. Anthias fish are typically out and about. What kind of Anthias?

 

[SaltieG]

They are lyretail anthias. Ive never seen a fish just hideout in the rocks unless it was sick and mine looks fine when I shine a light in at it.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Has the female begun to act aggressively toward him? She may be transitioning to a male, and if that is the case, they may have already fought over dominance and the female may have won. If this is the case he is hiding so as not to challenge the new top fish for supremacy.

 

[SaltieG]

I actually haven't seen the female go anywhere near the male and certainly hasn't been aggressive. I did see the male peek out of the rocks today and I thought maybe he would venture back out into the open but he retreated back to hiding again.

 

[maazreef]

Did your anthias ever come out? I recently put a lyretail in my tank that hasn't come out a cave under rocks for 3 days.