Male Squareback Anthias - Respiratory Distress?

[adamyaws]

I have a fairly new squareback anthias that I bought from a known shop. He was there for 8 weeks and was eating and looking good albeit a bit bashful.

That behavior has not changed and he's eating well but I'm a bit worried about his 'breathing.' It seems like he's constantly breathing hard and has been for 5 days now. Whenever I feed (mysis) he comes right out and eats as well as chases the female squareback around for a bit. All while 'breathing' hard. I do not see any white spots or black spots on him or any other fish at all.

This squareback DID NOT go through a proper quarantine at my house. My QT is being re-stocked right now...the tank I bought for it got drilled and converted into a refugium. (Stupid.)

Tank mates in a 150G XH (48x24x31) This is likely all the stock it will get.
Sailfin Tang
Yellow Tang (these two tangs are the FIRST TIME I've ever bought tangs)
3 B/G chromis
Banggai Cardinal
Flame Cardinal
Female squareback anthias

They are fed mysis shrimp twice daily -- at 0800 and 1900. The tangs get a bit of seaweed every other day. All the mysis is gone within 3 minutes and everyone eats well.

Thoughts/ideas/criticism?

Thanks!
Adam

 

[snorvich]

Does the LFS run copper in its system? What is the timeline the anthias was acquired? When were the chromis added?

 

[adamyaws]

Hi Steve,

Yep, the LFS runs copper. This Anthias has been in my tank for 12 days. The chromis (from the same store) have been in my tank for 63 days today. Before I bought the anthias, he was at the store for 21 days on a hold for me. This morning I fed and he came out and ate...then dove back into the rocks to hide and gasp for 'air.'

Thanks!
Adam

 

[ca1ore]

I have a lot of experience with Squareback anthias and many of them are quite 'twitchy', particularly the males. It is not unusual for one to hide for quite a while and/or manifest stress through 'rapid' breathing. That your fish is eating, suggests that whatever is amiss, it isn't immediately life-threatening. I'd be inclined to think that it is intimidated by the other fish, particularly the tangs. Yellow's can be quite aggressive, as can sailfins. Also, your tank is really too small for a Sailfin; and even for the square, so that may be exacerbating stress.

FWIW, having the LFS 'hold' a fish for you (particularly if they run copper) is actually not a good idea. Lots of opportunities for it to catch something.

 

[adamyaws]

Excellent, thanks for the advice! At this point I'll keep an eye on him and stop freaking out. I've historically had good luck with anthias (lyretail) and have never lost one but they have caused me to lose many an hour of sleep due to worry. Why I purchase them when they scare me so, I cannot explain.

Agree on the size issue (which is one of the reasons I've never had tangs...always had 4' tanks.) Tons of conflicting information out there on Tangs in particular...yet another reason I've never had them. At this point they're quite small (<2" length) although I know they will grow which means they'll be removed eventually.

Although it doesn't mean anything, I watch this tank quite regularly and have never *seen* the tangs bothering him or anyone else.

In fact, the only reason this tank really has ANY fish in it is due to the kiddos loving them. I'd much rather feed coral.

 

[ca1ore]

Although it doesn't mean anything, I watch this tank quite regularly and have never *seen* the tangs bothering him or anyone else.

May not be them. But sometimes even the presence of another, 'threatening' fish can be enough to make a Squareback crazy. Although Lyretails are less high strung, squares may actually be easier to maintain as a group.

 

[adamyaws]

Thanks! I have only one male and a single female. A few people have privately recommended adding another female or two and eliminating the tangs. With that I am at a bit of an impasse since if prefer not to introduce more fish to this tank and would definitely not want to add more fish if I indeed have a sick one.

I've backed myself into a corner. Dang.

 

[adamyaws]

Maybe a turn for the better today! He's been out and swimming around a bit. Still gasping for air but at least he's not totally hiding.

LFS owner seems to think he's ok and should just watch closely for the time being. No one else in the tank is showing any signs of stress or ich. Monitoring for now.