125 reef stocking list (anthias question)

[JP SPS]

So here are the fish I plan to add to my new 125 SPS reef build:

4 Bartletts Anthias
3 Lyretail or Dispar Anthias
4 Blue/Green Chromis
2 firefish
2 blue gedgeon dartfish
1 mandarin goby
1 yellow watchman goby

My question is mainly suggestions for which anthias to pair with the Bartletts. Any suggestions on Lyretail vs Dispars? Which are hardier and more peaceful? Also, what is a good number for each group? I am thinking 4 Batletts and 3 of the Lyretail or Dispars.

 

[o2manyfish]

I think, but am not 100% sure, but the lyretail end up substantially larger than the dispar.

I added dispar a few months ago and they are doing really well. Last week I added some Carberri which have schooled up with them and hopefully following their feeding routine.

Dave B

 

[JP SPS]

Lyretail get up to 5", Dispar 4" and Bartletts about 3.5".

I have also read to keep them in odd numbers, but also to keep the number of females in odd numbers. I plan to get 1 male and 3 female Bartletts and 3 female Dispars, I think.

 

[Reefnub]

Lyretail get up to 5", Dispar 4" and Bartletts about 3.5".

I have also read to keep them in odd numbers, but also to keep the number of females in odd numbers. I plan to get 1 male and 3 female Bartletts and 3 female Dispars, I think.

Lyretail get to big IMO unless you get the Lanka ones. Bartletts tend to all turn male and fade in coloration. Dispars are nice and so are ignitus.

 

[Ambition]

I'd personally shy away from keeping bartletts due to the fact that they usually all turn male and you'll lose all but one. Also, lyretails get on the bigger side, which makes me shy away from them as well. I prefer the smaller anthias species like carberryi, dispar, sunset, ignitus, evansi, etc. My 120 will be stocked with a mixed group of evansi and carberryi as the carberryi mimic evansi anthias in the wild.

 

[rssjsb]

Bartlets and lyretails are also pretty obnoxious and would likely make life impossible for your firefish and dartfish. Dispars are also wimpy and shouldn't be mixed with bartlets or lyretails either. All three are likely to be driven to jumping or hiding and starving in the rockwork of your tank.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I would avoid buying any chromis now. The disease forum is getting many reports of chromis dropping like flies, many with uronema. i have no idea why. Chromis generally kill each other off until one remains anyway.

 

[h2hiero]

Bartlets and lyretails are also pretty obnoxious and would likely make life impossible for your firefish and dartfish. Dispars are also wimpy and shouldn't be mixed with bartlets or lyretails either. All three are likely to be driven to jumping or hiding and starving in the rockwork of your tank.

I have my barlets and helfrichi fire fish school all together 4 firefish 6 barlets the colors are a somewhat similar it looks good together.

 

[JP SPS]

I've heard so many conflicting things on the Bartletts. Some say they are the easiest of the anthias to keep, other say they get aggressive and all turn male.

Any consensus on which anthias are the easiest of the bunch to deep? Dispars and what else?

 

[rssjsb]

I think lyretails are generally regarded as hardiest. They just tend to be kind of boisterous.

Dispars are less hardy, but are more peaceful and a therefore better match for the other non-anthias fish on your list, IMO. I still wouldn't mix them with bartlets or lyretails.

Keep in mind that these recommendations are based on general rules. You might get lucky like h2hiero reports, but I think that's a little unusual. For one thing, firefish don't usually tolerate groups of conspecifics. Usually you'll end up with one or a pair. And they're usually fairly timid.