Anthias questions

[cwb_reeftank]

I have been thinking about getting some Anthias for my tank. fairly small ones and I was wondering if they do better in groups and if that group can consist of one male and one female. I have a 55 gallon tank. and any advice and fish suggestions would be nice.

 

[twon8]

In a tank that small I'd stick to one. Two will result in the one always picking on the other and you don't have a tank big enough for a large group

 

[cwb_reeftank]

well do you know of some species that would be good in that size tank?

 

[twon8]

Most any would be good solo. Anthias generally do fine by them self as long as there are not aggressive tank mates. I'd go for a borbonious

 

[twon8]

What else do you have in there now

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I have a six line wrasse, melanurus wrasse, bicolor blenny, green clown goby, and a cherub angelfish. I have a yellow tang but I'm thinking about taking him out that's why I want an Anthias.

 

[twon8]

The six line and melanarus may bully and kill the anthias. Cherubs can be mean as well. I'd stick to lyretails as they are the most able to handle themselves against aggressive tank mates.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

surprisingly my six line and melanarus are very calm and don't bother other fish and my cherub isn't bad it'll follow a new fish for a day then move on. I'm actually really shocked that my two wrasses don't bother each other but they swim together all the time

 

[eatbreakfast]

Anthias that do well singly include sunburst and borbonius, though these both prefer to hang out around the rockwork, so may be be more likely to be bullied by the sixline or cherub.

Squamipinnis are hardy and can also be kept singly.

Smaller anthias, such as randalls and dispars can be kept in a small group of 3 or more and are peaceful with one another.

 

[AJQ69]

How about Lyretails? They are active swimmers and like to display same as fairy and flashers

 

[eatbreakfast]

Lyretails/squamipinnis can be aggressive toward one another, so if there aren't enough targets within in the group to disperse social aggression one will dominate and in many cases kill the others.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

but I couldn't put a small group of three in my 55 right?

 

[Pete polyp]

but I couldn't put a small group of three in my 55 right?

No. They require a much larger tank, even for 1
The only exceptions are the botched and waitei

 

[eatbreakfast]

No. They require a much larger tank, even for 1
The only exceptions are the botched and waitei

I disagree, a 55 will comfortably handle a small groups of dispaes or randalls.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I would like to get at least two species if I could that would go good together

 

[eatbreakfast]

Bartletts and squamipinnis are both feisty, so will do well together, dispars and randalls are both peaceful, so they go nicely together.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

so for my size tank and the fish that I have could I do three dispars and one randalls or could I do three of each or would that be too many because im also trying to do a sps tank but I also do a 15 gallon water change every week so I don't think the bio load would be to bad.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I think you could do 3 of each with that regimen, but your parameters will let you know for sure.