Decent Anthias to Keep Singly?

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 25, 2017

I say decent, because I don't consider it a "good thing" to keep a shoaling or schooling fish by itself. But, I think it would be cool to have one. Anyone have experience with keeping a single Anthias in a smaller tank? I've got a 50. I love Sunburst but have had very bad luck with them in the past. There is the Squammi of course but kind of boring.

nautical_nathaniel · Aug 25, 2017

Borbonius anthias do well by themselves

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 25, 2017

Ah, beautiful fish. I call them Borbonius Groupers. ;Shamefullyembarrased My buddy had a huge one that was very feisty and an aggressive eater. A small one would be nice though it would definitely outgrow my tank eventually.

nautical_nathaniel · Aug 25, 2017

Bouncingsoul39 said:
Ah, beautiful fish. I call them Borbonius Groupers. ;Shamefullyembarrased My buddy had a huge one that was very feisty and an aggressive eater. A small one would be nice though it would definitely outgrow my tank eventually.

Haha yea, I've heard their bottomless pits with a bad attitude sometimes. How about this guy: link

DeniseAndy · Aug 25, 2017

In a 50, you could keep 3 resplendents (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus) or 3 slender (Luzonichthys waitei).

Stephen Glover · Aug 25, 2017

I keep a single Carberryi and he seems happy in a 93 cube. Out and about all day long and eats everything except pellets.

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 25, 2017

pensacola-aquarist said:
Haha yea, I've heard their bottomless pits with a bad attitude sometimes. How about this guy: link

I like those!

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 25, 2017

DeniseAndy said:
In a 50, you could keep 3 resplendents (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus) or 3 slender (Luzonichthys waitei).

3 Slender would be cool. I've actually never seen those before. I like that they are smaller and peaceful from the LA description anyway.

Maritimer · Aug 25, 2017

Would a fathead sunburst be pushing it in that size tank?

~Bruce

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 26, 2017

Maritimer said:
Would a fathead sunburst be pushing it in that size tank?

~Bruce

A 2 inch sun burst I think would be ok for quite along time. I've just lost three of them over the years and they are not cheap so afraid of that again.

40B Knasty · Aug 26, 2017

Had a Red Saddleback Anthies. The Anthies was friends with the clown. Spotted mandarin doesn't pay no mind to any fish. Grammica lined dart fish hung out with it when he came out of his hole. This was in a 20g. Sadly my Randall's Prawn goby killed it.

Here is a pic of Flash

Bouncingsoul39 · Aug 28, 2017

40B Knasty said:
Had a Red Saddleback Anthies. The Anthies was friends with the clown. Spotted mandarin doesn't pay no mind to any fish. Grammica lined dart fish hung out with it when he came out of his hole. This was in a 20g. Sadly my Randall's Prawn goby killed it.
Here is a pic of Flash

How did the Randall's kill Flash? Just bullied into hiding?

40B Knasty · Aug 28, 2017

Bouncingsoul39 said:
How did the Randall's kill Flash? Just bullied into hiding?

Attacked him repeatedly. Anthies need to eat several times a day. After a few days of little eating. Then it turned into hiding for 2 days. It was over. No one believes that Randall's Prawn Goby are like that. Here is a picture of him attacking my Yellow and Purple wrasse that is 2x the size of him. He killed my Swissguard Basslet and was attacking my spotted mandarin. Then I put a flame angel in. He was scared of the flame, but as soon as he was out of range he would go back to bullying. He was also bullying the grammica lined dart fish, but he put him in his place a few times. The Randall's fanning fin would get split down the middle and grow back fine in the next 2 days.

Bouncingsoul39 · Sep 6, 2017

40B Knasty said:
Attacked him repeatedly. Anthies need to eat several times a day. After a few days of little eating. Then it turned into hiding for 2 days. It was over. No one believes that Randall's Prawn Goby are like that. Here is a picture of him attacking my Yellow and Purple wrasse that is 2x the size of him. He killed my Swissguard Basslet and was attacking my spotted mandarin. Then I put a flame angel in. He was scared of the flame, but as soon as he was out of range he would go back to bullying. He was also bullying the grammica lined dart fish, but he put him in his place a few times. The Randall's fanning fin would get split down the middle and grow back fine in the next 2 days.

Wow dude that's a ticked off Goby. So...I came across a Red Sea Lyretail Anthias at a LFS for $30. Couldn't find any more uncommon and interesting ones so I thought it was nice. I know the wife would like it.
Looked a little skinny but figured from shipping pretty standard. Ate pretty well but got a blotchy patch on its side. A couple days later, went to the big Ocean in the sky. [emoji17]