School of Butterflyfish or Anthias

[300bowler]

Hey Guys,

Which would you recommend a school of butterfly fish or a school of anthias?
The tank is a 220 gallon.
Dimensions are 6' x 2' x 30"

I was thinking a school of three.

Final stocking list will have:
2 tangs (Blue and Sailfin)
4 or 5 Wrasses (Melanarus for sure)
and some other miscellaneous small fish such as gobies.

Thanks,
-Alex-

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hey Guys,

Just curious if I could put a school of butterfly fish in my tank. The tank is a 220 gallon.
Dimensions are 6' x 2' x 30"

I was thinking a school of three.

Final stocking list will have:
2 tangs (Blue and Sailfin)
4 or 5 Wrasses (Melanarus for sure)
and some other miscellaneous small fish such as gobies.

If you guys think I could do the butterfly fish which ones would you recommend.
If I cant do the school I will just get one butterfly and it most likely will be a copper-band. I loved my last one but had to sell it, during my tank tear down.

Thanks,
-Alex-

I think you could do a group of pyramid or zoster butterflies.

 

[300bowler]

I think you could do a group of pyramid or zoster butterflies.

Thanks for the reply. I am also looking at anthias. Would you recommend the school of butterflies or a school of anthias instead.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I have a pyramid butterfly and have kept anthias. IMO the butterfly is a lot easier to keep than anthias.

a group of pyramids look nice.

 

[eatbreakfast]

My personal preference is anthias, but it really depends on what appeals to you more.

 

[300bowler]

My personal preference is anthias, but it really depends on what appeals to you more.

I have never kept anthias before. Which ones would you recommend.

 

[DeniseAndy]

With anthias, the trick is feeding and comfort. They need to be comfortable that they will not get eaten to come out and feed. I love anthias, but if you want more than three, go with a smaller species.

Although, the three in the lyrtail are always a hardy choice for a novice at anthias. Pretty too. Add all at the same time too!

 

[300bowler]

I really like the look of the Indian ocean lyretail anthias. Would these be a good choice for a first timer with anthias.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+20+1512&pcatid=1512

 

[eatbreakfast]

Lyretails are hardy, but also on the aggressive side for anthias. I highly recommend dispars and randalls. They are also hardy and more peaceful with one another.

High water flow and multiple feedings a day are important for them.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Most lyretails are pretty hardy comparatively. Those are pretty.

 

[saltyhog]

I had a group of three Pyramids and got rid of two of them. They are great fish but eat a tremendous amount and add greatly to the bioload. In a lightly stocked tank your size I think they would be great, but if you want a fair amount of fish I would go with the anthias.

 

[300bowler]

Lyretails are hardy, but also on the aggressive side for anthias. I highly recommend dispars and randalls. They are also hardy and more peaceful with one another.

High water flow and multiple feedings a day are important for them.

So are they aggressive with each other or towards other tank mates???

 

[All Delight]

I personally like anthias. Sunset anthias to be exact.

 

[eatbreakfast]

So are they aggressive with each other or towards other tank mates???

Mostly to each other, but if there aren't enough squammis they will chase other planktivores.

 

[PatW]

You might try dispar anthias. Like all anthias, they really need multiple feedings per day. I have a school of six. I am adding four in a couple of weeks in a 300 gallon. A school of five to seven would probably work well in a 210. There has been very little aggression. In each group there seems to be a shy fish that hides and takes time to build confidence. Dispars are smaller, far less aggressive and not as vibrantly colored as lyretails. Mine are starting to eat flakes.

 

[PatW]

You might try dispar anthias. Like all anthias, they really need multiple feedings per day. I have a school of six. I am adding four in a couple of weeks in a 300 gallon. A school of five to seven would probably work well in a 210. There has been very little aggression. In each group there seems to be a shy fish that hides and takes time to build confidence. Dispars are smaller, far less aggressive and not as vibrantly colored as lyretails. Mine are starting to eat flakes.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I had a group of 12 dispars in a 150 a few years back. They stayed together, but had two subgroups, each with their own male. The males would display to each other and to their females. The males were very vibrant.