Newbie Feeding Questions for Anthias Owners

Nlangan · 01/20/2010, 12:37 PM

I got 4 flame Anthias a week ago - a big male and 3 females. At first they didn't come out, then they wouldn't eat, now I've got them out and live brine shrimp proved to be irresistable to them. Last night they were munching on frozen mysis! I haven't gotten them to eat any dry food. This is a problem because my research says they should be fed several small meals a day. I got a nice Eheim feeder to do this while I'm at work but I obviously can't load live or frozen food into the feeder. Id like to know how other Anthias owners solved this problem.

Please share your Anthias feeding routines. Keep in mind that I'm a newbie, and easily confused.

[edit]-I should mention that they only look for food in the water column, so sinking pellets are only considered for a second or two until the hit the bottom, and flake is completely ignored - even cyclopse-eze flakes!

Shane Hoffman · 01/20/2010, 01:08 PM

Sometimes it helps to soak in garlic and selcon. Start by mixing some garlic in with the live brine when you feed. This should get them used to the scent of garlic. After a while start mixing in small pellets soaked with garlic with the live brine. You should notice them slowly taking the pellets over time. It may take some time. Until you get them used to it you should be ok just feeding them before work then again as soon as you get home........

dudley moray · 01/20/2010, 03:52 PM

i feed mine once a day with no trouble sometimes twice there should be enough little critters in your tank they can pick at while you are away

seafansar · 01/20/2010, 06:21 PM

I fed my 5 Carberryi anthias a lot for the first 2 weeks after I got them. Got them used to eating frozen, flake, and pellets (but like yours they ignore pellets once they hit the bottom). After they started looking nice and healthy, I started feeding less. Now I feed once a day, sometimes skip a day, and when I'm home most the day I'll feed multiple times. Seems like after a while, they don't need to be fed as much.

Nlangan · 01/21/2010, 10:35 AM

Thanks, guys, that's good info. Anyone else want to chime in?

wrott · 06/19/2010, 04:44 PM

I agree w/ the fact that they don't need to be fed more than 1 or 2x/day. On the weekends, I feed 4-5x/day, but I have let it go 3 days w/out feeding and no ill effects on my Ignitus and Sunburst.
I believe, as others have stated, the first couple of weeks is critical in feeding them as much as possible. After a few months mine will eat most anything--NLS Optimum and ON formula 2 (green) flakes, small NLS pellet and frozen Hikari brine/mysis.

01/20/2010, 12:37 PM	#1
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Newbie Feeding Questions for Anthias Owners I got 4 flame Anthias a week ago - a big male and 3 females. At first they didn't come out, then they wouldn't eat, now I've got them out and live brine shrimp proved to be irresistable to them. Last night they were munching on frozen mysis! I haven't gotten them to eat any dry food. This is a problem because my research says they should be fed several small meals a day. I got a nice Eheim feeder to do this while I'm at work but I obviously can't load live or frozen food into the feeder. Id like to know how other Anthias owners solved this problem. Please share your Anthias feeding routines. Keep in mind that I'm a newbie, and easily confused. [edit]-I should mention that they only look for food in the water column, so sinking pellets are only considered for a second or two until the hit the bottom, and flake is completely ignored - even cyclopse-eze flakes! __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show. Last edited by Nlangan; 01/20/2010 at 12:40 PM. Reason: clarification

01/20/2010, 01:08 PM	#2
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	Sometimes it helps to soak in garlic and selcon. Start by mixing some garlic in with the live brine when you feed. This should get them used to the scent of garlic. After a while start mixing in small pellets soaked with garlic with the live brine. You should notice them slowly taking the pellets over time. It may take some time. Until you get them used to it you should be ok just feeding them before work then again as soon as you get home........ __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

01/20/2010, 03:52 PM	#3
dudley moray sisternofuselessknowledge Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orillia ontario Posts: 795	i feed mine once a day with no trouble sometimes twice there should be enough little critters in your tank they can pick at while you are away __________________ We urge hobbyists to develop a good 'BS' detector that will allow you to question information presented to you without any experimental evidence to support it. chris Current Tank Info: 90 gal south pacific biotope 40 gal sump/fuge ,65 gal rebuilding

01/20/2010, 06:21 PM	#4
seafansar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,023	I fed my 5 Carberryi anthias a lot for the first 2 weeks after I got them. Got them used to eating frozen, flake, and pellets (but like yours they ignore pellets once they hit the bottom). After they started looking nice and healthy, I started feeding less. Now I feed once a day, sometimes skip a day, and when I'm home most the day I'll feed multiple times. Seems like after a while, they don't need to be fed as much. __________________ -Sara Current Tank Info: mixed reef

01/21/2010, 10:35 AM	#5
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Thanks, guys, that's good info. Anyone else want to chime in? __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.

06/19/2010, 04:44 PM	#6
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I agree w/ the fact that they don't need to be fed more than 1 or 2x/day. On the weekends, I feed 4-5x/day, but I have let it go 3 days w/out feeding and no ill effects on my Ignitus and Sunburst. I believe, as others have stated, the first couple of weeks is critical in feeding them as much as possible. After a few months mine will eat most anything--NLS Optimum and ON formula 2 (green) flakes, small NLS pellet and frozen Hikari brine/mysis. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt