Anthias Questions

[mvbrandt]

Hello all,

So I'm getting perhaps invariably curious about adding an Anthias Team to my tank eventually.

Current fish stock is:
Regal Tang
Sailfin Tang
Two Spot Kole Tang
Foxface Lo
6 x BG Chromis
Firefish
Lubbock's Wrasse
Diamond Goby
Ocellaris Pair

Could really use a "not blue" contrast color in the water column.

I'm not especially worried about the feeding regimen. What I'm curious about is mess and general stock level. It's a CADE 1500 (see build thread), ~175g TWV. I'm also curious about if there are any concerning interactions with the current occupants.

Finally, for that tank size, which Anthias and quantity of m/f would be appropriate? Answers and opinions seem to vary greatly.

Grazie in advance!

 

[CJB]

Anthais, are a great fish to have they have very interesting personalities. They can be delicate fish and would go well I think with any of those tank mates you mentioned, they can be semi aggressive but since you are adding them last and with a 175 I think you’d be okay. They are much like clown fish but opposite in the fact that the largest female will become the male. You could get away with I’d say 3-5 of these fish 5 would probably be pushing it. 1 male in the group. They also will like hiding spots if you have any. Their bio load isn’t anything to worry greatly about.

 

[ca1ore]

I’d suggest that pseudoanthias are a potential bioload problem. Not because they necessarily eat a lot, but because they must be fed more frequently which means all your fish are going to eat more. Assuming your system can handle that, as you imply, there’s a massive range within the genus. Lyretails and Bartlett are probably the most commonly kept. They are relatively easy to feed, but also quite aggressive within their species. Not unusual to end up with just a single fish. Rather like you will with the green chromis. Dispar are a good choice as are bimacs. Latter a bit on the $$ side though. Avoid purple queen, princess and Randall’s. They either won’t eat or won’t compete well for food.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have one boy and 6 girls. More than one male rarely ends well

 

[mvbrandt]

I’d suggest that pseudoanthias are a potential bioload problem. Not because they necessarily eat a lot, but because they must be fed more frequently which means all your fish are going to eat more. Assuming your system can handle that, as you imply, there’s a massive range within the genus. Lyretails and Bartlett are probably the most commonly kept. They are relatively easy to feed, but also quite aggressive within their species. Not unusual to end up with just a single fish. Rather like you will with the green chromis. Dispar are a good choice as are bimacs. Latter a bit on the $$ side though. Avoid purple queen, princess and Randall’s. They either won’t eat or won’t compete well for food.

This seems to be the most enduring debate about Chromis. I've only had the 6 for a little over 3 months now, but they show near-0 aggression (and I work with the tank in my direct line of sight ... so I stare at it WAAAY too often lol). I keep waiting for the hammer to drop.

Thanks for the advice folks.

 

[X-37B]

My 120 has 6 blue green chromis for 1.5 years now and 2 lyretails for around 3 months now.
No issues yet with the anthias.
I feed heavy, 3x a day at around 8 cubes plus nori.
Other fish total 14:
Convict tang
Tomini tang
Foxface
2 clowns
Pajama cardinal

 

[ca1ore]

This seems to be the most enduring debate about Chromis. I've only had the 6 for a little over 3 months now, but they show near-0 aggression (and I work with the tank in my direct line of sight ... so I stare at it WAAAY too often lol). I keep waiting for the hammer to drop.

Thanks for the advice folks.

Perhaps you will be an exception ..... mine always ended up picking each other off. High incidence for uronema has them off my list now so when my single goes, that'll be it.

 

[mvbrandt]

Perhaps you will be an exception ..... mine always ended up picking each other off. High incidence for uronema has them off my list now so when my single goes, that'll be it.

Which immediately makes me curious to know when you're "in the clear" for Uronema. These guys had 6 weeks of QT prior to going into my tank what 3 months ago .... clean as a whistle, but if it's a silent and deadly disease, that also terrifies me.

 

[Rubberfrog]

I've never had any luck with anthias. They always seem to bully themselves down to a single fish.

 

[ca1ore]

Which immediately makes me curious to know when you're "in the clear" for Uronema. These guys had 6 weeks of QT prior to going into my tank what 3 months ago .... clean as a whistle, but if it's a silent and deadly disease, that also terrifies me.

I would think you'd be good. I have had U a few times in QT and it presents pretty quickly .... kills quickly too.

 

[Zionas]

Which fish other than Anthias and Chromis have you found to be susceptible to U?