What are some good anthias?

dc_909 · 09/22/2007, 11:29 PM

I want a group of anthias, but don't know much about them.

What are some good, colorful, choices?

How many should I get? (for a 120)

Can I mix different types of anthias and have them still be happy?

What is the right male/female ratio?

Thanks

melev · 09/23/2007, 12:03 AM

I bought a harem of Squamipinnis Anthias from LiveAquaria. I got 7 females and one male, and they are stunning.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1165728

Since your tank is smaller, you'd want less fish for sure. I've seen different anthias combined in a reef tank at my LFS ( the show display) and they look beautiful. I've never seen any fighting, but the owner told me that the Tuka were very aggressive. Tuka are anthias with a very pointy 'beak' (merely a description) where the mouth is.

Anthias need to be acclimated quickly as they use up oxygen quickly in their bags, and fed multiple times per day. Will your system be able to handle that load adequately?

Smokey84 · 09/23/2007, 12:27 AM

I love my Squamipinnis Anthias. I'd like to do a full anthias tank but that will have to wait to my next tank upgrade.

The bartlett's anthias is a beautiful fish too.

skeeter-doc · 09/23/2007, 08:36 AM

I like the deep water Sunburst anthias, but I have only seen people who have one, not a group of that particular sp. but yes, they have mixed it with other anthias successfully.

SDguy · 09/23/2007, 09:36 AM

Redbar, bartlett, lyretail, bicolor, huchtii are all pretty hardy. I haven't had an issue mixing anthias. I have had issues though with flukes, or getting some species to eat. QT is very impotant, IMO, for these reasons. I currently have a mixture of lyretail, bartlett, and flame anthias.

If this is your first time keeping anthias, I'd stick to just one species for now. Lyretails are probably your best bet.

Hey Marc, I know of only one person here on RC with success with tuka. Howlong has this store had theirs?

melev · 09/23/2007, 10:41 AM

It was a while, Peter. Months for sure. I kept watching for them each time I visited, and one day they were gone. I think he put 3 in that tank, or at least 2. Along with a bunch of other fish.

All that color was really nice.

64Ivy · 09/23/2007, 11:14 AM

Let's not forget about Bimacs (Bimaculatus). They tend to grow a little larger than most Anthias but very pretty and quite hardy, ime.

SDguy · 09/23/2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
All that color was really nice.

Yeah, mixing anthias, though sometimes tricky, can give you a nice array of colors...

Chibils · 09/23/2007, 11:53 AM

Melev:

I've been looking into anthias for my 90G tank. Should I stick to a male and 2 females? Is twice a day (in the morning and the afternoon) enough feeding?

melev · 09/23/2007, 12:09 PM

1 male, 2 or 3 females should be good. And yes, twice a day in small amounts is fine.

When only feeding once a day, they seem to vanish one by one.

Chibils · 09/23/2007, 08:51 PM

Aha. Thank you melev.

Mr James · 09/23/2007, 09:19 PM

I wouldn't agree with a harem of anthias for a 90g, nor would I agree with the 1male:2females. Maybe 1male:3females.... I bought mine from Liveaquaria and did lots of research before hand. I purchased 1 male and 4 female Lyretails for my 180g. Be prepared ahead of time for lots of feeding. And where there is lots of food, have a good skimmer.

adddo · 09/24/2007, 05:20 AM

I would opt for Lyretails to start with.

Tukas can be kinda hard to get to eat and normally dies away after a few months.

When they are new try to feed often after a couple of months feedings can be reduced to twice a day, sometimes even less. But always start with multiple feedings to get them settled.

09/22/2007, 11:29 PM	#1
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	What are some good anthias? I want a group of anthias, but don't know much about them. What are some good, colorful, choices? How many should I get? (for a 120) Can I mix different types of anthias and have them still be happy? What is the right male/female ratio? Thanks

09/23/2007, 09:36 AM	#5
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Redbar, bartlett, lyretail, bicolor, huchtii are all pretty hardy. I haven't had an issue mixing anthias. I have had issues though with flukes, or getting some species to eat. QT is very impotant, IMO, for these reasons. I currently have a mixture of lyretail, bartlett, and flame anthias. If this is your first time keeping anthias, I'd stick to just one species for now. Lyretails are probably your best bet. Hey Marc, I know of only one person here on RC with success with tuka. Howlong has this store had theirs? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

09/23/2007, 11:14 AM	#7
64Ivy B'rer Reefer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 3,194	Let's not forget about Bimacs (Bimaculatus). They tend to grow a little larger than most Anthias but very pretty and quite hardy, ime. __________________ Be Kind To The Elderly. Life Without Parole Means Nothing To Us. ToTM 3-03 Current Tank Info: Between tanks. Searching for a home

09/23/2007, 11:53 AM	#9
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	Melev: I've been looking into anthias for my 90G tank. Should I stick to a male and 2 females? Is twice a day (in the morning and the afternoon) enough feeding? __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

09/23/2007, 08:51 PM	#11
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	Aha. Thank you melev. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

09/23/2007, 12:03 AM	#2
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I bought a harem of Squamipinnis Anthias from LiveAquaria. I got 7 females and one male, and they are stunning. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1165728 Since your tank is smaller, you'd want less fish for sure. I've seen different anthias combined in a reef tank at my LFS ( the show display) and they look beautiful. I've never seen any fighting, but the owner told me that the Tuka were very aggressive. Tuka are anthias with a very pointy 'beak' (merely a description) where the mouth is. Anthias need to be acclimated quickly as they use up oxygen quickly in their bags, and fed multiple times per day. Will your system be able to handle that load adequately?

09/23/2007, 12:27 AM	#3
Smokey84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Eighty Four, Pa Posts: 26	I love my Squamipinnis Anthias. I'd like to do a full anthias tank but that will have to wait to my next tank upgrade. The bartlett's anthias is a beautiful fish too.

09/23/2007, 08:36 AM	#4
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	I like the deep water Sunburst anthias, but I have only seen people who have one, not a group of that particular sp. but yes, they have mixed it with other anthias successfully.

09/23/2007, 10:41 AM	#6
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	It was a while, Peter. Months for sure. I kept watching for them each time I visited, and one day they were gone. I think he put 3 in that tank, or at least 2. Along with a bunch of other fish. All that color was really nice.

09/23/2007, 12:09 PM	#10
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	1 male, 2 or 3 females should be good. And yes, twice a day in small amounts is fine. When only feeding once a day, they seem to vanish one by one.

09/23/2007, 09:19 PM	#12
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	I wouldn't agree with a harem of anthias for a 90g, nor would I agree with the 1male:2females. Maybe 1male:3females.... I bought mine from Liveaquaria and did lots of research before hand. I purchased 1 male and 4 female Lyretails for my 180g. Be prepared ahead of time for lots of feeding. And where there is lots of food, have a good skimmer.

09/24/2007, 05:20 AM	#13
adddo “Goodnight, tiny humans.” Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 1,008	I would opt for Lyretails to start with. Tukas can be kinda hard to get to eat and normally dies away after a few months. When they are new try to feed often after a couple of months feedings can be reduced to twice a day, sometimes even less. But always start with multiple feedings to get them settled. __________________ If Pacman had affected us as kids, then we'd all be running around in a dark room, munching pills and listening to repetitive music //Bjarne