What's the deal with Anthias

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10522166#post10522166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
You are really going to need to offer live food. Dispars can be very hard to get eating. This is a species that really needs to be trained to eat the foods we offer in a QT tank. Once they are eating they will eat just about anything.

Carl

I agree--after a three week battle to get a red line anthias to feed I was not successfull. I tried everything--frozen, fresh with garlic without garlic etc etc. IMO this fish had problems before I got it.
-----but what I ended up with was a dead fish I could not get out of the reef plus a huge cyno bacteria problem from left over fish food the others didn't touch either.
----so this is another advantage of using a quarantine tank---you can experiment with feeding in there, it is not stressed out by others, and if something should happen to the fish it is contained in the quarantine tank.
 
Good News, FINALLY!!
So this morning, before the MHs turned on, I took some plain and simple frozen mysis (no garlic or anything else) and fed some small pieces. 2 of the dispars started feeding immediately. When the 3rd one saw the other two eating, he came out of hiding and got started with them. Once the 3 were feeding I think they got a comfort level that allowed them to just keep it going (viciously!!)

The 3rd dispar has me worried. He keeps hanging out under a ledge and we won't budge. What I don't like is that he's nuzzled inbetween some rocks. He's not swimming around under a ledge, but rather resting on a rock and nuzzled into a corner. His tail is a little ragged on one end. No other problematic symptoms though.
Is it normal for an anthia to rest on a rock like this?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542523#post10542523 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pezcubano
Good News, FINALLY!!
So this morning, before the MHs turned on, I took some plain and simple frozen mysis (no garlic or anything else) and fed some small pieces. 2 of the dispars started feeding immediately. When the 3rd one saw the other two eating, he came out of hiding and got started with them. Once the 3 were feeding I think they got a comfort level that allowed them to just keep it going (viciously!!)

The 3rd dispar has me worried. He keeps hanging out under a ledge and we won't budge. What I don't like is that he's nuzzled inbetween some rocks. He's not swimming around under a ledge, but rather resting on a rock and nuzzled into a corner. His tail is a little ragged on one end. No other problematic symptoms though.
Is it normal for an anthia to rest on a rock like this?

that is good news--congratulations--it is a real challenge trying to get fish to eat

the other one is getting attacked--if not by fish--by some inverts---do you have any hermits in there.
Check before the lights go out and after the lights go out--use a flashlight if you have to
 
It could also be bacterial. I would bet this fish's immune system is no longer functioning since it has had no nutriton for who knows how long.

So you found they are somewhat bothered by the bright light. I would keep the halides off for a couple of days and see if this gives you a consistant feeding response.

Take it easy on adding vits and other additives until their digestive tract gets used to having food in it. Beta Glucon mixed with the food and allowed to soak for awhile will boost the immune much faster than Garlic. You can bet their fat deposits have been reduced to nothing so if anything add a little Selcon.

Congrats on them taking their first bites!!!

Carl
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10542928#post10542928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
It could also be bacterial. I would bet this fish's immune system is no longer functioning since it has had no nutriton for who knows how long.

So you found they are somewhat bothered by the bright light. I would keep the halides off for a couple of days and see if this gives you a consistant feeding response.

Take it easy on adding vits and other additives until their digestive tract gets used to having food in it. Beta Glucon mixed with the food and allowed to soak for awhile will boost the immune much faster than Garlic. You can bet their fat deposits have been reduced to nothing so if anything add a little Selcon.

Congrats on them taking their first bites!!!

Carl

nice tank Carl----

both methods (if they work) take a relatively long time to build up an immunity system---so as a daily regime to health fish it is a great idea

In this case I would try and get the fish out where it is not going to be picked at by other critters because of its weakened state.
That way you can keep an eye on it and if it is a disease , treat it.
 
Thanks for all the tips.
I will look into the Selcon and Beta Glucon.
I'll continue feeding regularly and keep everyone posted.

I have noticed that they are much better about having people around. They don't spook as much when I approach to feed and if they do spook, the come right back out of their rock a second later.

Carl- I noticed that when I have the MHs on, they come out a lot more easily. With the lights off, they tend to hide more. Kinda weird, huh??
 
Just finished 2nd feeding of the day and it was vicious!!! They left nothing behind... The 3rd and sickly anthia came firing out of his ledge and ate like a pig, but...
I got a good look at him and he's not looking too hot.
His tail is ragged, his skin around the tail looks lumpy and soft, and he has a few white spots on his face. After eating he stayed out in the open and didn't go back to his ledge. He's been active since the feeding. The other two anthias look great, no signs of any disease.

I don't want to hijack this thread any more than I have, so if anyone wants to follow it I'll be opening another thread in the Fish Disease forum.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated (this is my first fish disease)
 
Glad for your sucess. I don't think it's unusual for them to hide more in dim light. They may just be checking out their sleeping places. My bartlets behave the same way.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543995#post10543995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pezcubano
Just finished 2nd feeding of the day and it was vicious!!! They left nothing behind... The 3rd and sickly anthia came firing out of his ledge and ate like a pig, but...
I got a good look at him and he's not looking too hot.
His tail is ragged, his skin around the tail looks lumpy and soft, and he has a few white spots on his face. After eating he stayed out in the open and didn't go back to his ledge. He's been active since the feeding. The other two anthias look great, no signs of any disease.

I don't want to hijack this thread any more than I have, so if anyone wants to follow it I'll be opening another thread in the Fish Disease forum.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated (this is my first fish disease)

your not hijacking--the thread is on anthias--and I'm learning lots too.
Can you get that third one out into quarantine? I afraid for it at night while in a weakened state
 
speaking of learning--I was able to purchase three "paddle foot anthias" this weekend--nice size--and all eating in the quarantine tank. Can't seem to find out any info on these--do they have another name?
They are orange and white and there lateral finds are a real dark orange so they look like paddles when they arr extending them.
 
Cooperi? I am at work and don't have any reference's with me. I'll look when I get home tonight.

Are they a Pseudanthias? I only ask because lately there have been some odd Japanese anthias coming in.

Carl
 
I found some Selcon, but I can't find any BETA GLUCON, at least not on any aquarium sites. I found it on multiple health sites for human beings, but any beta glucan on aquarium sites is found as an ingredient in another product. I haven't seen any beta glucan by itself. Any particular brands I should be looking for? Can I use the Beta Glucan for humans?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10547563#post10547563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
Cooperi? I am at work and don't have any reference's with me. I'll look when I get home tonight.

Are they a Pseudanthias? I only ask because lately there have been some odd Japanese anthias coming in.

Carl

thanks Carl--checked out pseudanthias---there not that.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10549284#post10549284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pezcubano
I found some Selcon, but I can't find any BETA GLUCON, at least not on any aquarium sites. I found it on multiple health sites for human beings, but any beta glucan on aquarium sites is found as an ingredient in another product. I haven't seen any beta glucan by itself. Any particular brands I should be looking for? Can I use the Beta Glucan for humans?

I did some research on it for you and found some interesting links--felt bad about half hijacking your thread :)

http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search?p=beta+glucon+for+marine+fish&ei=UTF-8&fr=hp-pvnb
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10549416#post10549416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
We demand pictures! :)

Carl

duh----why didn't I think of that ;)

I'll post some after work tonight
 
Yep the Beta Glucon is only goingto be found in a health food store. I prefer the capsules since I do not have anything to break up hard pills. Just pull the capsule apart and sprinkle it over the food. Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to give it time to soak into the food.

For sick, injured, or just dewormed fish I use it daily for atleast a week. Once the fish are back to normal I use it once a week.

Carl
 
Thanks Carl!!
I just ordered it...
The sick anthia is splitting his time between sitting under the ledge and swimming around with his buddies. He appears to be breathing slightly heavier than them, his tail is still ragged, but the spots seems to have gotten a little better. At least he's feeding well!!

I'll let you know how the Beta Glucan and Selcon do.
 
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