Anthias or wrasse for my tank ???

[Abhishek]

Hi ,

Starting my 30 in x 30 in x 18 in 70 gallon tank in few weeks . Have kept clowns , firefishes and gobies in the past almost 6 years back .
Tank is going to be sps dominant or that's the hope and plan anyhow ..

Have always wished for a small school of anthias or a pair of wrasses ..

Are there any species of anthias that I can keep in schools of 4-5 ? If not , any pair of wrasses that can be kept ..

Tank will have gobies and may be a hawk for the rocks ..

Regards,
ABHISHEK

 

[DeniseAndy]

That small of tank will not bode well to many anthias. Respendent or slender anthias is all I would recommend. I have wanted those two for soooo long, just never the right timing.

Most of your flasher or fairy (Cirrhillibrus sp.) would be fine in there. Just make sure you have a cover!

 

[Duke4Life]

Agreed with the wrasses.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Randalls will be one of the best bets for a group of anthias in that size tank. High flow in the top 1/3 of the tank is desirable for them.

Small fairy species and most flasher species will do, as mentioned, but skip getting a pr. Even with a male present females frequently transition into males, and this leads to serious squabbles. Get a couple different species instead of a pr of the same species.

 

[dragon99]

I vote wrasses, but not a "pair" just 2-3 different species
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/pairing-wrasses-thats-not-how-any-of-this-works.3/

 

[Abhishek]

Thanks guys for the awesome replies..

So , for wrasses can I combine 2 sub species of Cirrhilabrus like Cirrhilabrus filamentosus and Cirrhilabrus rubeus ? Or is it better to have 1 of each Cirrhilabrus, Wetmorella and Pseudocheilinus ???

Also, how should they be introduced in the tank ? All at the same time so that one does not establish dominancy by introducing one by one ?

Lastly, dumb question but how hardy are the wrasses to be the first fishes after 1 month of starting the tank ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[eatbreakfast]

C. filamentosus can be a real jerk, so can Pseudocheilinus species.

Wrasses are pretty hardy.

 

[Abhishek]

@eatbreakfast - Thanks for the reply !!! Now if some of them can be really jerk, what sub species do you suggest from Paracheilinus , Cirrhilabrus and Wetmorella ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[eatbreakfast]

@eatbreakfast - Thanks for the reply !!! Now if some of them can be really jerk, what sub species do you suggest from Paracheilinus , Cirrhilabrus and Wetmorella ?

Regards,
Abhishek

Any of the Paracheilinus will work, except maybe P. octotaenia. Good Cirrhilabrus inhabitants for your tank would include: rubeus, isoscoles, lunatus, lubbocki, exquisitus, rhomboidalis, aurantidorsalis. Any Wetmorella species would work.

 

[dragon99]

I always like referring to this diagram when considering which fairy wrasses to mix

 

[evolved]

Thanks guys for the awesome replies..

So , for wrasses can I combine 2 sub species of Cirrhilabrus like Cirrhilabrus filamentosus and Cirrhilabrus rubeus ? Or is it better to have 1 of each Cirrhilabrus, Wetmorella and Pseudocheilinus ???

Also, how should they be introduced in the tank ? All at the same time so that one does not establish dominancy by introducing one by one ?

Lastly, dumb question but how hardy are the wrasses to be the first fishes after 1 month of starting the tank ?

Regards,
Abhishek

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.28/

 

[cpschult]

Hey, make sure you have a very good cover. I had two pintail wrasse and lost one using egg crate!

I highly recommend making a screen. Brs sells kits,
Otherwise you can buy kit from menards and mesh from brs.

 

[Abhishek]

Thanks for all the inputs ..
For all the wrasse keepers, is it mandatory to have a refugium setup if i got for wrasses like Paracheilinus , Cirrhilabrus and Wetmorella ?
Feeding 3-4 times a day with frozen foods and market pellets is not a problem but is a healthy copepod population supported by a refugium is must ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[evolved]

For all the wrasse keepers, is it mandatory to have a refugium setup if i got for wrasses like Paracheilinus , Cirrhilabrus and Wetmorella ?
Feeding 3-4 times a day with frozen foods and market pellets is not a problem but is a healthy copepod population supported by a refugium is must ?

No, not by any means. Feeding in that manner you'll be fine.