Advice on Anthia

[Dreadnaught]

I would like to add ~10 Anthia to my 245G SPS dominated tank. I was originally planning a small shoal of Lyretail (1 male and 4 female) and then adding a few random Anthia like Squareback, Pictilis, Fathead, etc. I found the below read on Anthia and it makes some good points and now I am not sure a Lyretail Shoal is a good strategy. Who has had success with a large number of Anthia? Any strategies? I am running a strict QT program. My tank is pretty empty of fish as I only have a M. Foxface, pair of clowns, Achilles Tang and cleaner wrasse. In addition to the DT (Strong random flow), my system also has a 150G Refugium + 120G Sump.

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/Pic/article.cfm?c=3578&aid=2476

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would like to add ~10 Anthia to my 245G SPS dominated tank. I was originally planning a small shoal of Lyretail (1 male and 4 female) and then adding a few random Anthia like Squareback, Pictilis, Fathead, etc. I found the below read on Anthia and it makes some good points and now I am not sure a Lyretail Shoal is a good strategy. Who has had success with a large number of Anthia? Any strategies? I am running a strict QT program. My tank is pretty empty of fish as I only have a M. Foxface, pair of clowns, Achilles Tang and cleaner wrasse. In addition to the DT (Strong random flow), my system also has a 150G Refugium + 120G Sump.

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/Pic/article.cfm?c=3578&aid=2476

I have frequently kept groups of anthias in tanks.

While there is at times aggression and posturing to solidify social status, having a larger group diffuses the aggression.

High flow and frequent feedings also help keep aggression down.

Lyretails and bartletts are among the most aggressive with anthias in the social group. I find that dispar/ignitus and randalls/pulcherrimus are pretty hardy, readily available, and not as aggressive with one another as lyretails and bartletts are.

 

[SeaDweller]

I have 12 Anthias currently: 6 lyretails and 6 bimacs. I am thinking of adding another species later.

In qt, high flow and small foods are a must. I say this because I personally feel it simulates the current they're used to. I had a Jebao rw8 in qt for them using else mode, and they loved it.

I've found keeping them in a qt with low flow does nothing for them, and ultimately the trials I've had in a typical qt all result in dead Anthias.

Good luck, my next batch will be ventralis. I wouldn't hesitate to get lyretails to be honest. They're pretty

 

[reef_ranch]

I have a small shoal of ventralis 1 male and 3 female in a 340 with high flow and a big arch. The anthias find protection and shade under the arch but are fairly bold and are not bothered by any of the other fish which include angels, tangs wrasses and a group of longspine cardinals. I feed at least 4 or 5 times per day with a variety of frozen foods and they eat it all. I have three more females in qt. I have found that ventralis are fairly tolerant of new additions. A little squabbling among the females to find the pecking order then they fall in line behind the male.