Lyretail anthias
- Thread starter Bthomas
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I keep 4 in my 144 with no problems. 
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Bthomas
Well-Known Member
Do you have a male and 3 females? No aggression at all?I keep 4 in my 144 with no problems.
All females, one is starting to slowly transition. Zero aggression so far.
DangerDave
Valuable Member
I think you’ll be fine. I’d actually recommend a larger group. I’d also recommend starting with all females. I have 5 lyretails & 5 Bartletts, along with 9 chromis and a couple other small fish in my 160 display. They’ve been in there for over a year. The distraction of the other fish keeps the social aggression diminished, but it’s always there. Feeding them often works well, but it’s a lot of nutrient export.
The bartlett male rules with an iron fin and keeps the other four separated in different places. Two of them are sub males.
The lyretail male speakers softer but carries a bigger stick. The lyretail male is stunning, orange and purple. He’s huge compared to the females. He was the only one of the lyretails to turn male.
They do not bother with other fish for the most part.
Good luck, they’re a blast to watch.
The bartlett male rules with an iron fin and keeps the other four separated in different places. Two of them are sub males.
The lyretail male speakers softer but carries a bigger stick. The lyretail male is stunning, orange and purple. He’s huge compared to the females. He was the only one of the lyretails to turn male.
They do not bother with other fish for the most part.
Good luck, they’re a blast to watch.
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Bthomas
Well-Known Member
I don't have too many other fish in the tank at the moment. Would it be best to wait till I have some other smaller fish for the distraction as you mentioned? I did plan on a group of chromis as well but I'm having a hard time getting them to survive the quarantine
DangerDave
Valuable Member
I think a nice group of chromis will work, i would (did actually) put them in first. I find Chromis are delicate when they come to lfs. Feed them often and if they put some mass on they should make it.
DangerDave
Valuable Member
Btw the action of the anthias keeps any social aggression from arising in the chromis...
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Bthomas
Well-Known Member
Yeah I've tried 2 groups of chromis and both times they succumbed to uronema. It's quite discouraging and I wasn't sure if I was going to try again but maybe I will before getting anthias
DangerDave
Valuable Member
Yeah it sucks. They are inexpensive so it makes it easier. Just curious what size where the chromis? I have always purchased very small ones, survival rate tends to be 70-100%. I’ve never identified a cause when lost. Most of the time the Cuc tends remove the evidence quick since they’re so small.
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Bthomas
Well-Known Member
The ones I've gotten have all been roughly an inch, some smaller. When they die in quarantine you don't have that issue with the cuc.
When buying them in groups it makes the expense go up quite a bit.. I've lost 16 so far.
Any particular reason you suggest chromis in before anthias?
DangerDave
Valuable Member
I guess it doesn’t matter. The anthias never bothered anything. In general I would always put the more docile fish in first. After doing it I don’t think it would matter.
16 is a lot to lose in a row. I feel ya.
16 is a lot to lose in a row. I feel ya.
sp1187
bird flu antidote
I have 4 lyretails. all were females when purchased and different sizes ranging small to medium. the biggest of the 4 has almost completely morphed to a male. I also have 5 blue/green chromis, 3 lyretail damsels, a pair of bangaii and pajama cardinals, a foxface lo, a lamarck angel, a convict tang, a six line wrasse, a combtooth blenny, and a bibolor dottyback. all fish are 2 1/2" or less. tank is a 150 Tall.
Their is a heirarchy, based on size, amongst the anthias and the chromis group.none of it gets to the point of all out bullying though. I was kind of surprised the lamarck will occasionally chase the largest chromis around.
Their is a heirarchy, based on size, amongst the anthias and the chromis group.none of it gets to the point of all out bullying though. I was kind of surprised the lamarck will occasionally chase the largest chromis around.
Salt1972
Active Member
For what it's worth we keep about 7-9 green chromis in our 125g mixed reef with the 4 lyretail anthias. It wasn't a plan or design as much as adding the least aggressive fish first. Chromis > Goby > Lyretail > Tang(s). We started with 19 chromis and were down to 9 when the anthias went in and it has remained stable. I'm not sure if the stability is the result of the anthias or removing a LARGE Sally lightfoot crab about the same time.
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User1
Guest
Anthias? I think you will get varying replies but I personally wouldn't after owning Lyretail's before. The main reason is the chasing and and harassment from the dominate female or male with not enough females to spread the chase by keeping everyone in order. Not sure what the right term to use when the dominate female changes or the male suppresses females to stay.
My point is that I personally like a number like 7 to 12 to spread that out to different fish. You don't want a fewer number as the male or dominate female will keep them in hiding and they will slowly starve.
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User1
Guest
That is a good number.
