Lyretail Anthias; can someone help w/advice?

[MikeD88]

My wife really wants something purple/pink in our tank. The way things are right now, it’s very difficult to find fish. So far we have two tank raised storm clowns and stank raised BIOTA yellow tang in our Reefer 350. I’ve been very patient this time back in the hobby. I also want to be very smart. This is going to be an SPS mixed reef. (Mostly SPS) I’m on the fence with either an orchid dottyback or the Anthias. Any advice would help? Thank you guys!

 

[homer1475]

Dottyback's can be jerks! Constantly harassing other fish.

My male lyretail is peaceful and swims the entire tank. I skipped the female, or females so they wouldn't pick each other off.

 

[WVNed]

I have a few. They are bight orange. The male is a slightly deeper orange. There are times when he takes a purplish tinge but he doesnt stay that way.

 

[homer1475]

Interesting observation @WVNed. My male is always purple.

 

[homer1475]

You can just make out my male on the lower left side of this pic. Sorry only pic I have At the moment, and my lights are currently off.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Interesting observation @WVNed. My male is always purple.

That's due to regionaly variency i believe, more orange ones from the indian ocean while more purple are from Figi and Indonesia. And different phenotypes will be expressed throughout other regions like the blue anal fin in Japan.

 

[WVNed]

This is his other color

 

[jpbeen]

My wife really wants something purple/pink in our tank. The way things are right now, it’s very difficult to find fish. So far we have two tank raised storm clowns and stank raised BIOTA yellow tang in our Reefer 350. I’ve been very patient this time back in the hobby. I also want to be very smart. This is going to be an SPS mixed reef. (Mostly SPS) I’m on the fence with either an orchid dottyback or the Anthias. Any advice would help? Thank you guys!

We have a female and she is a great addition to the tank. Swims all over and no problems with other fish.

 

[Leishman]

Dottbacks can be mean. I added 5 female lyretail anthias on feb 9th. It took just under two months for the dominant one to fully change to male. Love these fish. I bought a new skimmer so i could have these guys. They need to be fed several times a day. You can see him on the left of three of four his lady friends:

 

[MikeD88]

Thank you guys! Are they Easy to keep? Is a Reefer 350 going to be adequate enough?

 

[jpbeen]

Thank you guys! Are they Easy to keep? Is a Reefer 350 going to be adequate enough?

Yes; size of your tank works depending on the number of fish in it. They need plenty of room to swim.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Have you considered a Squarespot anthias. You'll get purple and pink. Happy wife........;Happy