Over feeding and aggression

[MAGNUMDIVER]

I am noticing a change in my tank. I put a fathead anthias in my tank about six days ago. All the reading I've done says they need to eat at least 2 times per day. I always feed once a day. I am trying to get the anthias to eat but it has been a slow process. He will not compete for food so I have been giving more then usual. He is starting to come around. My problem is my flame angle is showing signs of aggression toward the other tank mates, something he usually does not do. I don't think its the addition of the anthias it self they are very timid and don't swim around much. could a change in feeding cause this type of behavior?

 

[M.phenax]

Your anthia is a timid species and won't compete for food. The fish shouldn't really be in a tank with a more aggressive species. The flame is probably asserting dominance owing to the new addition. I doubt extra feeding is causing the behavior.
Did you QT the anthia before adding it to your DT?
How big is your DT?

 

[MAGNUMDIVER]

The tank is a 90 gal with a 30 gal refugium. No I did not qt before.... I know I should but if I put another tank in the house my wife is going to make me find a new place to live.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I doubt the feeding has anything to do with the behavioral change; sounds like normal pecking order stuff. FWIW: I think all fish (except food gulping predators) should be fed 3 or more times a day, just enough avoid uneaten food. I've seen many, many pics of underfed fish on our forum. I think the thinking behind limited feeding goes back many years, when bio-filter capacity was a big problem.

 

[humaguy]

also feel it is beneficial to feed several small meals every day..

 

[drej424]

Don't you get algae when you feed several times a day? I've seen the pix of your tanks, so I know you don't. But that's what happens in my tanks. So, what do you do that prevents problems?

 

[MAGNUMDIVER]

All my fish are aggressive eaters but the anthias is not. I find myself adding more food to make sure some flows past him? As of last night he was only getting 4 or 5 small pieces of mysis. I will keep an eye on the flame angle he is not nipping just chasing. I hope as they get more Comfortable I can feed less. I guess I should step up the CUC.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Don't you get algae when you feed several times a day? I've seen the pix of your tanks, so I know you don't. But that's what happens in my tanks. So, what do you do that prevents problems?

There may be a bit more algae, I really know. Anytime organics are added to a tank, algae may increase a bit. Feeding is only one of several factors that affect algae. But the health & well being of my fish is far more important than a bit of additional maintenance.

 

[humaguy]

you may have to do a few more wc but you can, depending on what is in your tank, dial the lights back, both intensity and hours on/off...
ime/imo, feeding several times a day decreases aggression and keeping the lights dialed down/off when you are not in front of your tank helps keep them mellow...those two factors combined has helped me big time...

 

[snorvich]

also feel it is beneficial to feed several small meals every day..

Agreed. And for tangs, which eat constantly, either a very large tank with lots of algae, or nori constantly available.

 

[snorvich]

you may have to do a few more wc but you can, depending on what is in your tank, dial the lights back, both intensity and hours on/off...
ime/imo, feeding several times a day decreases aggression and keeping the lights dialed down/off when you are not in front of your tank helps keep them mellow...those two factors combined has helped me big time...

I definitely agree with both suggestions.

 

[griseum]

+1.

I think the idea of feeding once a day may have followed over from the Freshwater side of things as well. That and the days of when people accidentally dumped the entire bottle of Tetra flakes into the Goldfish Bowl. LOL.
And as Mr. Tusk said, the days of Undergravel filters and a lack of Useful, correct information about fish biology and aquarium chemistry (nitrogen cylce), where fish were oft lost to too much uneaten food and back when "fish would only grow to the size of the tank" so the 4 gallon hexagon tank would be perfect for a Jack Dempsey(FW) or a Coral Grouper(SW).

Anthias are all day eaters. The Fathead is bulkier than other Pseudanthias spp. and belongs to a different Genus all-together, the Serranocirrhitus genus. Having a fuge is a good thing as they need copepods/amphipods. Anthias like Bartletts, Lyretail, etc (Pseuadanthias spp.) if i remember correctly are planktivores, in the wild eating phyto- and zoo- planktons continuously through out the day. So I think an increase in the number of times throughout the day you feed, and perhaps a decrease in each portion size, might be helpful. Perhaps an autofeeder for the time while you are out of the house.
They do prefer dim, dark, deep tanks, usually bottom level fish. Good Luck!!!!
BTW, is it Reef or FOWLR? Has he taken to any of the food items you've offered with gust? If the mysis isnt PE Mysis, I would try those, or the combo pack of PE Mysis and Cyclo-peeze. Another secret weapon is Ova, but its not carried everywhere.

I think i might have been there when you bought this fish..... PM me.

::EDIT:: Oops. I just reiterated everything that was already said throughout the thread. Apologies.

 

[MAGNUMDIVER]

The anthias has been coming around. I have been feeding a mixing of cyclops and mysis. I just have to sneak up on the tank because he hides when I approach and half the food is gone by the time he comes out. Back on the topic the flame is still being a bully, I don't understand he has never acted this way before. He is going after my hippo tang the most and yellow tang the least. The funny thing is he used to be the body guard of the tank I had a dotty back that was a terror and the flame would come to the rescue of the other tank mates until the dotty back beat the flame up one day and gave him pop eye, that's when the dotty back was relocated to another tank.

 

[MAGNUMDIVER]

Griseum it's a fowlr. what do you mean you might have been there when I bought this fish?

 

[crissie]

The anthias has been coming around. I have been feeding a mixing of cyclops and mysis. I just have to sneak up on the tank because he hides when I approach and half the food is gone by the time he comes out. Back on the topic the flame is still being a bully, I don't understand he has never acted this way before. He is going after my hippo tang the most and yellow tang the least. The funny thing is he used to be the body guard of the tank I had a dotty back that was a terror and the flame would come to the rescue of the other tank mates until the dotty back beat the flame up one day and gave him pop eye, that's when the dotty back was relocated to another tank.

You find this behaviour in all animals, including fish. It's easier to explain with dogs though. You have your top dog, who will defend the under dogs when another is being aggressive. The same top dog will become generally aggressive to the rest of the pack if he feel threatened by a new presence.

So your flame will protect the other fish from being attacked, but will also become aggressive when he himself feels threatened.

It's doubtful it has anything to do with food an more that the flame is showing his position in the pecking order, as anthia isn't overly social he's demonstrating this with the other fish.

 

[MAGNUMDIVER]

Just an update things have settled in. The Flame has calmed down only flexing his muscle once and awhile. The thing I find the most interesting is the fathead is all over the tank eating well with the rest of the crew he is even eating pellet food.