Anthia vs. Royal Gramma

[lanman]

A week ago, I added 5 fish to my 3-fish tank. One of the originals was a male Lyre-Tailed Anthia. He is quite aggressive, oddly enough - and charges most of the other fish, especially during feeding time. But the one he really has a problem with is the Royal Gramma. The Gramma is almost the same size and shape as the Lyretail; which might be at least some of the problem. I have actually seen the two of them with jaws locked a couple of times. I have not yet seen the Gramma eat. That's not to say he doesn't sneak some food once in a while when I'm not looking, but he's afraid to come out of the rockwork and chase after food most of the time. When he does chase the food down, he doesn't eat it. So far he seems healthy - but not very happy. Is this situation likely to improve with time?

 

The clownfish completely ignores the Anthia, the two blue-green chromis just run away, and the coral beauty angel doesn't seem to get charged or chased much at all. But I'm concerned about the Royal Gramma. Suggestions?

 

bob

[flowerseller]

Somethings wrong here in Denmark.

Any chance it could actually be a spanish hogfish?

The characteristics seem more in line.

[davelin315]

That's strange, I've never seen anthias be very aggressive, although they were always the last fish to go in my tanks and I was never very successful with them. I know that the gramma will defend its territory against whoever by "yawning" at intruders, but I've never seen them go toe to toe with anything other than other grammas.

[lanman]

Somethings wrong here in Denmark.

Any chance it could actually be a spanish hogfish?

The characteristics seem more in line.

 

Here is my male Anthia:

 

They both used to look just like the female:

 

At least I saw the Gramma eat a piece of shrimp today. He was sitting in his little cave, and it came floating by, and he grabbed it. And didn't spit it out.

 

bob

[flowerseller]

As well in Denmark.

How long was the transvestite conversion?

[lanman]

As well in Denmark.

How long was the transvestite conversion?

Basically overnight. Imagine my surprise when the lights came on! That was a geniune 'Holy @#%$' moment! The colors continued to darken and the spots on the fins changed after that, but most of the transformation, including the 'spike' at the front of the dorsal fin happened in a day. She/He had always been the dominant one - in fact she killed the 3rd Anthia by chasing her mercilessly around the tank. The one that died was the smallest of the three. When I bought these from Johnny, he picked one 'larger' one that he said might turn into a male. And he was surely correct.

 

I didn't get to spend much time in front of the tank last evening, so I'll pick up the story tonight. Let's see how the battle goes.

 

bob