Male Anthias Picking on One Female

[msderganc]

So, I recently picked up 6 Bartlett's Anthias and finished a one month quarantine a couple of weeks ago. All started out as female, and two changed to male.

One of the males established dominance, and generally hung out with three females. The other male stayed to himself in the corner. During quarantine, the other female Anthias had popeye in one eye, and developed lymphocystis. I treated with antibiotics (just in case) and fed them beta glucans. Within a week or two all of them were back to normal.

After moving them into my DT, five of the anthias (two males and three females) coexist peacefully. Just a little chasing between the two males, but rare, and nothing serious. However, the female who had popeye is relegated to a cave. She still comes out to eat, and ventures out occasionally otherwise. But, 90% of the time the dominant male chases her back in the cave.

So, why does he do that? She gets enough to eat (and he doesn't chase her during feeding), but I'm concerned he'll stress her enough to die.

Any thoughts?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Bartlett's have a reputation for being among the more aggressive of anthias. Their social structure is based on dominance/submission roles and since that female was in a weakened state she automatically is the lowest and gets chased the most.

What is unusual is that it is the highest social member that is doing the chasing, it could be an unlikely possibility that the female with popeye began the first steps of transitioning to a male, and although at this stage nearly imperceptible to you or I, is quite noticeable to the other anthias.

 

[ca1ore]

I have kept Bartletts for years and they are a very 'chippy' anthias. Once the lowest fish in the social hierarchy starts to get picked on to the point where she hides, there's not much to be done short of removing the fish. OK, things might get better, but more likely you will realize one day that she is missing. In my case, it has always been the dominant male who keeps the group in order.

How big is your tank BTW?

 

[msderganc]

Thanks for the insight guys. It's a 190g display with about a 260g system. Lots of hiding places in live rock, and she doesn't seem too timid, other than hanging out in the cave. She is relatively large compared to the other anthias, so maybe she was starting to transition...