Kicking myself (need ID)

[skylsdale]

I don't do impulse or rescue purchases. I just don't. But for some reason today I was out of my mind while at the local Petco, and they had JUST received their shipment and got the fish in the tanks and there were two "pink anthias" in one of them. So I got them, thinking they were Dispar anthias.

However, upon closer inspection, they don't seem to quite fit the Dispar appearance. They have some barring on their sides, but I'm not sure if that is permanent or possibly a stressed coloration.

***EDIT***
After being in the tank for a little while, the barring has actually disappeared and they've taken on a fuller color. They really seem to look like Flame anthias, but I would still welcome any other thoughts. They aren't swimming out in the open at all, but rather resting in/on the rockwork. I assume this isn't normal, and wished I had noticed it more at the shop...but they were trying to hide under what little rockwork there was in the tank and were being pestered by the tangs and other large fish in their, so I didn't assume I would be seeing any sort of normal behavior.
******

Also, they don't seem to be doing well--one went straight for a hiding spot in the rocks, and the other is actually just sitting stationary perched on the rockwork. Not looking good...and I'm hacked off at myself for going so headlong into getting them. But hopefully they pull through...

 

[skylsdale]

Here is a better shot I managed to get:

 

[VegasMike]

The second pic definitely looks like a Lyretail (squamapinnis) and I do not know about the first. It may be a different type. I have 8 Lyretail Anthias in my 450. If that is what the one is, it is very hardy as far as Anthias go. I have had all eight of mine for almost two years.

Good Luck.

 

[skylsdale]

It is definitely not Pseudanthias squamipinnis. Those are the only other anthias species I've had experience with. The second and first fish are exactly the same--it just looks quite a bit different in that second pic. If you look at the large pic above with it resting on the sand, they both look exactly like that.

They make no attempt whatsoever to swim in the water column, but instead just rest right on the rock. Any time the flow starts to push them too much they seem to clamp on with their pectoral fins. I'm thinking they are both on their way out. One's stomach is a bit sunken, although the other's appears normal. They may have just been toward the end of the line through the capture and shipping process and might be too far gone. I'll have to see how things look in the morning.

 

[Boomer]

I'm pretty sure it is a female Pseudanthias Dispar

Description: The Dispar Anthias is commonly known as the Madder Seaperch. Males have a bright red dorsal fin and lack any red stripes on their tail. The female may display a yellowish-orange on the top and pale lavender to white on the underside.

Diet: Dispar do best when fed twice a day and do well on a diet of planktivore and they like to eat mysid shrimp, amphipods and other macroscopic life. Offer frozen Mysis shrimp, Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef (Frozen), and other small meat based foods.

Minimum Tank Size: 25 gallon tank will suffice for one fish, however, if keeping a group, a 125 gallon tank should be used since Anthias appreciate plenty of room to swim.

Level of Care: Moderate
approximate purchase size: 2-4"

http://www.oceanlight.com/print.php?img=12861

 

[Maxx]

After looking at Scott Michael's book, Reef Fishes Vol 1, I'd have to agree with Boomer that those are Dispar Anthias.

Check page 561, top left photo looks most like those to me.

One thing I noticed when looking at those pics is that the anthias dont look starved. They still have the fat pads behind the eyes, so they're not that far gone.

Nick

 

[diablo]

The second photo is the first post is definatly a disbar. now the male and female differ alittle so they both could be. just my short 2 cents lol

 

[skylsdale]

Well, things seem to be going much better. I was out of town for a couple days, and when I came back, one of them has begun to swim around in the water column. It eventually made its way over to the other one still hiding in the rock, and they have both become much more active.

 

[Maxx]

Good to hear, please keep us posted.

Nick

 

[skylsdale]

Well, after about a week after first obtaining them, they started to eat. One is constantly out and about (the other is still pretty shy and hides a lot). It's voraciously chowing down everything from frozen mysis to flake food.