Blotched anthias!?

[Whiskerfishy]

I've been wanting one of these guys for quite some time, and now I finally have the chance to buy one!
Anyone kept them or currently keeping them? Or just know anything about them? I've been trying to do some research, but I feel like I need more info before I can purchase such an expensive fish!
My tank is a 72 gal bowfront, with two vortechs for flow, currently set-up as a growing reef, it's summer so the temp is staying between 78-80 but the rest of the year it drops to about 75, and the current tank inhabitants are:
Pair of ocellaris clowns, flame wrasse, algae Blenny, and 3 pj cardinals.
Thank you in advance for any advice and feel free to ask any questions if it'll help decide whether or not one of these beautiful fish would be suitable for my tank!

[stunreefer]

Read this.

[Whiskerfishy]

Thank you! I started reading through it, I'll keep going tonight!

[namxas]

They're really great fish, and about the best anthias we've ever kept. We kept a trio for quite some time in with our dwarf lions and other small "things with stings".

They do bicker amongst themselves bit at first until the pecking order is established, but after that, they're fine.

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by namxas

They're really great fish, and about the best anthias we've ever kept. We kept a trio for quite some time in with our dwarf lions and other small "things with stings".

They do bicker amongst themselves bit at first until the pecking order is established, but after that, they're fine.

Thanks for the response! How do you feel they are regarding water quality? Are they extremely finicky? I don't want the little guy dying if I have a slight rise in salinity or something while I'm away or just if temperature fluctuates and so on.
Also, I'd just be be getting the one for now...do they do alright on their own?
Do you know how long their average lifespan typically is? Thanks!

[mikem101]

is it just me or do these guys need a tank size almost double what he has? ive never kept one, but ive heard they need like 100-150 gallon tank?

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by mikem101

is it just me or do these guys need a tank size almost double what he has? ive never kept one, but ive heard they need like 100-150 gallon tank?

She
The fish is only 2 inches right now, and I plan to upgrade to a bigger tank in the next year or so

[mikem101]

Oh sorry lol! And i hate to sound negative but we just had a huge discussion about this same thing in another thread! Most people agreed that its a bad idea to get a fish in the hopes or plans in upgrading unless the tank is on order, only due to the fact that some fish like the blotched are so finicky to begin with putting them in a small tank even as a litte guy is even harder to keep them alive. IMHO i would wait till you upgrade for a fish purchase like this. If there is one thing i have learned in this hobby its patience!

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by mikem101

Oh sorry lol! And i hate to sound negative but we just had a huge discussion about this same thing in another thread! Most people agreed that its a bad idea to get a fish in the hopes or plans in upgrading unless the tank is on order, only due to the fact that some fish like the blotched are so finicky to begin with putting them in a small tank even as a litte guy is even harder to keep them alive. IMHO i would wait till you upgrade for a fish purchase like this. If there is one thing i have learned in this hobby its patience!

Yeah, I completely understand where you're coming from
So, they are hard to care for? Or, at least they are pretty finicky?

[isnyc300]

i have a pair in a 75. i bought them when they were about 2 inches too and they are pretty hardy. They readily eat almost anything, mine loves pellets and mysid

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by isnyc300

i have a pair in a 75. i bought them when they were about 2 inches too and they are pretty hardy. They readily eat almost anything, mine loves pellets and mysid

Cool How long have you had them?

[mikem101]

some people might have different experiences with them but, the blotched anthias are notoriously hard to keep due to they should be eating 3-4 times a day, also they do not do good with ANY aggressive tank mates! Not saying it could never work but as a rule they are not an easy fish to keep. Fathead and sunburst are better choices for a smaller tank.

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by mikem101

some people might have different experiences with them but, the blotched anthias are notoriously hard to keep due to they should be eating 3-4 times a day, also they do not do good with ANY aggressive tank mates! Not saying it could never work but as a rule they are not an easy fish to keep. Fathead and sunburst are better choices for a smaller tank.

Okay thanks! I'll make sure to consider that!

[o2manyfish]

Originally Posted by mikem101

some people might have different experiences with them but, the blotched anthias are notoriously hard to keep due to they should be eating 3-4 times a day, also they do not do good with ANY aggressive tank mates! Not saying it could never work but as a rule they are not an easy fish to keep. Fathead and sunburst are better choices for a smaller tank.

Not sure what level of aggressive fish you are talking about. I have 13 tangs, 11 angels, 10+ pseudochromis, and 5 Royals Grammas. The Borbon don't seem to have issues with any of the fish. They hang out at the same end of the tank as the other anthias (10+).

But when it's feeding time they are out amoung the others gathering food. With over 120 fish in the tank there is quite a bit of competition.

Dave B

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Not sure what level of aggressive fish you are talking about. I have 13 tangs, 11 angels, 10+ pseudochromis, and 5 Royals Grammas. The Borbon don't seem to have issues with any of the fish. They hang out at the same end of the tank as the other anthias (10+).

But when it's feeding time they are out amoung the others gathering food. With over 120 fish in the tank there is quite a bit of competition.

Dave B

Whoa! That must be an absolutely stunning tank!
Do you think for someone that has never kept anthias I'd be okay with one?

[o2manyfish]

Check out the tank. Live webcam. Lights are on from 5pm at 1am PST. Use the controls to move the camera to the right hand side of the tank. Borbonius Anthias are usually hanging off on the right side of the island or unfortunately on the rock wall behind the island - Camera is at 74.62.193.110

Dave

As for whether you would be okay with one.... When I got interested in Anthias I did my research and found to keep anthias (not just Borbon) that the anthias family required a regular food supply to get success. So I bought an auto feeder and the tank gets fed a mixture of pellets and cyclopeeze 5x a day. This seems to work well for most of the anthias. The Borbonius were much easier to get to eat any prepared food and so they are happy to take advantage of the scheduled feedings. And then a couple of times a day I add some frozen or reef nutrition foods.

[Whiskerfishy]

Originally Posted by o2manyfish

Check out the tank. Live webcam. Lights are on from 5pm at 1am PST. Use the controls to move the camera to the right hand side of the tank. Borbonius Anthias are usually hanging off on the right side of the island or unfortunately on the rock wall behind the island - Camera is at 74.62.193.110

Dave

As for whether you would be okay with one.... When I got interested in Anthias I did my research and found to keep anthias (not just Borbon) that the anthias family required a regular food supply to get success. So I bought an auto feeder and the tank gets fed a mixture of pellets and cyclopeeze 5x a day. This seems to work well for most of the anthias. The Borbonius were much easier to get to eat any prepared food and so they are happy to take advantage of the scheduled feedings. And then a couple of times a day I add some frozen or reef nutrition foods.

I'm on my phone, so it's not letting me view it right now ill make side to later though!
Okay, I'll take a look at those.

[mikem101]

dave im trying to look at the camera and its just black :-(

[ingtar_shinowa]

great cam