Whats your experience with Anthias?
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james983
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What type Anthias are your considering?They range from easy, Lyratails and Bartlets to difficult like the Ventralis. Also, some prefer groups and other should be kept alone. Most require several feedings per day to thrive.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
I've owned a trio of Red Saddled (P. flavoguttatus) and a trio of Borbonius, a single Lyretail and a Sunburst.
The Red saddled were nasty to each other. It's the first time I've ever seen fish jaw lock in my tank. The mouth of the smaller one was damaged and he probably only lived a year after that. His mouth was stuck open. I separated the remaining two and that's when they became super timid. So, they were nasty to each other, but afraid of everyone else.
The Borbs had their hierarchy and no one crossed the line. So there really was no fighting. We had to watch the girl on the bottom of the totem poll during feeding, to ensure she got her fill. I used to hit the male with the feeding stick. He would steal big hunks of food intended for the lions and scorps. He was so fast. They are a very bulky anthias, when they grow up and can stand their own.
The sunburst looks much like the borbs as far as body shape. That's probably why she did not fit in with them. She did not have the personality to fight for her spot, so I had to remove her. Such a timid fish, so that she was even afraid of the seahorses.
And our bestest ole girl, the lyretail. She was a beast. She had all the other chicks cowering in the corner at the LFS and went through 2 men in her 8 years. After the second male died, we never tried to pair her again. Oddly enough in about year 5, she grew an elongated dorsal fin, like a female does in the presence of other chicks and no male. She had been alone for about 4 years at this point, so we don't know why she was trying to go "male" on us. She would sit in our hands to get food.
I did not feed them multiple times a day. If I had a few cubes in a dish, I would go around and put little bits in the tank at a time. That's to make sure they eat it all and it doesn't get down in the rocks. I didn't feed them differently than my other fish..... well, my other normal fish. None of mine were picky.
The Red saddled were nasty to each other. It's the first time I've ever seen fish jaw lock in my tank. The mouth of the smaller one was damaged and he probably only lived a year after that. His mouth was stuck open. I separated the remaining two and that's when they became super timid. So, they were nasty to each other, but afraid of everyone else.
The Borbs had their hierarchy and no one crossed the line. So there really was no fighting. We had to watch the girl on the bottom of the totem poll during feeding, to ensure she got her fill. I used to hit the male with the feeding stick. He would steal big hunks of food intended for the lions and scorps. He was so fast. They are a very bulky anthias, when they grow up and can stand their own.
The sunburst looks much like the borbs as far as body shape. That's probably why she did not fit in with them. She did not have the personality to fight for her spot, so I had to remove her. Such a timid fish, so that she was even afraid of the seahorses.
And our bestest ole girl, the lyretail. She was a beast. She had all the other chicks cowering in the corner at the LFS and went through 2 men in her 8 years. After the second male died, we never tried to pair her again. Oddly enough in about year 5, she grew an elongated dorsal fin, like a female does in the presence of other chicks and no male. She had been alone for about 4 years at this point, so we don't know why she was trying to go "male" on us. She would sit in our hands to get food.
I did not feed them multiple times a day. If I had a few cubes in a dish, I would go around and put little bits in the tank at a time. That's to make sure they eat it all and it doesn't get down in the rocks. I didn't feed them differently than my other fish..... well, my other normal fish. None of mine were picky.
ChrisAndJulie2012
Active Member
I have two Lyretail's that I love. I try to feed them at least twice a day, but mostly its once a day in the evening. They don't eat flake and turn their nose up to it. I feed them a shrimp cocktail I get at petco. They cobble it up along with all the other fish. They were the same size, then one grew large and the other kept its size. I am guessing one is female one is male. They are beautiful fish, their colors shine nice with my old T5 fixture.
eschulist
Active Member
I only have a single sunburst. I love the coloration and chill demeanor they have.
The dude with a sweet Anthias tank is my buddy Chris. He's won TOTM on Reef2Reef but keeps most of his posting on our local club forum.
http://www.tcmas.org/v4/forums/showthread.php?53891-Chris-Elos-160&p=642867&viewfull=1#post642867
There are probably 100-200 great pictures of his tank and fish if you take the time to browse through the entire thread.
The dude with a sweet Anthias tank is my buddy Chris. He's won TOTM on Reef2Reef but keeps most of his posting on our local club forum.
http://www.tcmas.org/v4/forums/showthread.php?53891-Chris-Elos-160&p=642867&viewfull=1#post642867
There are probably 100-200 great pictures of his tank and fish if you take the time to browse through the entire thread.
Sabellafella
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I currently have 5 evansi and 7 tuka now witch are suppost to be the holy grail of finicky anthias, this was my first shot at them nd they all get along with eachother .honestly they just do really poor with shipping and that goes with any anthias, they get skinny real quick nd dont really adapt well, they have to be fed atleast 4 times a day minimum for the first couple months then theyll do fine with just 2. blochys and sunburst like to hide all day long until feeding, ventralis are just awesome i was acually able to keep 2 for more then 3 years up untill sandy, Thats it for me , and if your going with little shoals go with all females if you could
Sabellafella
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Borbonius, theres acually a splurge of all different sizes going around and for real cheap so now is ur chance lol
eschulist
Active Member
Jizu Puentes
Well-Known Member
I only have a dispar and it eats along g side my other fish which are fed a homemade mixture twice a day. It is a voracious eater but never gets as plump as he other fish. I'd like to get a few more dispar and maybe try another type of anthia
