Squareback Anthias Issues

[sethd12]

I purchased a male Squareback anthias from LA back in early December. It took him a few days to settle down, but once he did he was eating absolutely everything I put in the tank. Then, all of a sudden he has stopped eating about a week and a half ago. He doesn't seem to be skinny, but he is very lethargic, now hanging out in the shadows instead of at the top looking for food like before. I have tried mysis, all cubes from the saltwater multipack, krill (he ate one small piece once), and cyclopeeze. I was going to take him out and maybe put him in quarantine but not sure exactly what I would treat him with as I am not sure what is wrong with him. All other fish are great, as are corals. Anyone have any suggestions to try?

Thanks

 

[ca1ore]

Hard to offer much in the way of advice. When a fish that was eating suddenly stops, and there are no obvious signs of disease, prognosis isn't usually good. One can speculate that perhaps original collection techniques may have been problematic, but not much to be done. Assuming there were no aggression issues, I'd just keep offering food and hope he emerges from whatever funk ails him.

 

[sethd12]

That is what I was afraid of. It has been many years since I received a specimen that has acted this way. I hope he continues to act interested in the food and one day might try another bite. Thanks for the advice/knowledge.

 

[ca1ore]

I have a Sailfin tang in similar straights. Ate really well for the first six weeks of QT and then stopped. It's been almost three weeks now, and it ignores all foods and is getting very thin. No apparent signs of disease, and I have done all the usual meds.

 

[RJT]

That has happened to me even with fish I have had for years. Once they stop eating they have never started to eat again. Absolutely no signs of illness.

 

[Fragman4]

You might want to pull him and try to give him a round of prazi. Anthias have a good chance of having flukes. Any fin issues?

 

[ca1ore]

That is what I was afraid of. It has been many years since I received a specimen that has acted this way. I hope he continues to act interested in the food and one day might try another bite. Thanks for the advice/knowledge.

On thing you could try is the reef plankton from SF Bay. It's a small prey item, slightly bigger than cyclopeese, that I have found to almost irresistible to anthias. I've also used its to get leopard wrasses eating as well as juvenile regal Angels.

 

[sethd12]

No fin issues that I can see. He joins in with all of my other fish in the corner for feeding time but then he just looks at it. He acts like he really wants it. One thing I did notice after watching just him for about 30 minutes that periodically he opens his jaw and closes it a few quick times weirdly. Not sure if related to anything at all just an observation.

 

[jbvdhp]

No fin issues that I can see. He joins in with all of my other fish in the corner for feeding time but then he just looks at it. He acts like he really wants it. One thing I did notice after watching just him for about 30 minutes that periodically he opens his jaw and closes it a few quick times weirdly. Not sure if related to anything at all just an observation.

My anthias do that too, although yawning could be a symptom of flukes iirc

 

[sethd12]

That's a symptom of flukes? If so I will take him out and treat and try to save him. Any recommendations of treating?

 

[3FordFamily]

I've not been able to keep any anthias. I've only tried twice but I bought a trio each time

 

[ca1ore]

One thing I did notice after watching just him for about 30 minutes that periodically he opens his jaw and closes it a few quick times weirdly. Not sure if related to anything at all just an observation.

This is something anthias do all the time. I've not noted any correlation with flukes, or anything else, for that matter.

 

[sethd12]

That is what I originally thought as I had Barlett's a few years ago and they used to do that quite often, I just don't see my lyretails doing that, but that could be due to their relatively small size and quickness.

 

[geckoejon]

any update on the squareback? i have a male that seems to have the same symptoms.... he made it through 3 weeks of prazi & cuprine. he was eating fine the last couple weeks. i put him in the dt, and he ate for a couple weeks... then he just stopped eating.... looks interested, gathers with the other fish when i feed, occasionally bites a piece, spits it out, and then swims away...

 

[Tripod1404]

What is the origin of the fish? Sudden loss of apatite, lethargic behavior and avoiding light are some symptoms of cyanide poisoning. If it is from Philippines or Indonesia, I would suspect that, especially since it is a deep water specie.