3-6 Anthias for a 75g/150g system volume.

[chasekwe]

Hi folks,

I'm looking for ideas for 3-6 anthias to go into my 75g display tank. These will be my first ever anthias so I prefer one of the easier species. I can feed them once daily, the rest will have to be done by auto-feeder (so dry only).

Price isn't as much a consideration as long as it doesn't get ridiculous.. but <$100 per fish is acceptable.

 

[namxas]

About as "bulletproof" as you can get would be lyretails (Pseudanthias squamapinnis). Get four females and let the dominant fish become a secondary male (i think it's easiest). Or get a male and (3) females.

I've never had good luck keeping males for long, but going the female route, I was able to keep the dominant specimen for 8 years...she/he was a great fish.

My other fave, but pricy would be a trio of "blotchies" (Holanthias borbonius). We've had our trio for a couple of years now, and they're doing super (got 3 small specimens and one became a male).

Lyretail "he/she":

Male blotched:

 

[coralfish]

I have 7 lyretails in my 220....they are no trouble and very easy to care for. Go with 1 male and the rest female whatever number of them you get. I started out with 4 female/3 male and now I have 5 female/1 dominate male/and one that is trying to change into female.

 

[chasekwe]

Thanks, Lyretails was my leaning as well. I was just a bit worried being that the tank is a 75g and they get kinda big.

Other thoughts, off the top of my head are Resplendents, Randall's and Bimacs. If I go lyretail do you prefer the maldive variety or the fiji?

I wouldn't even mind doing a mix, say 3 of 2 different varieties if that might be more interesting than a larger group of 1 type.

 

[SDguy]

I think resplendent anthias would be an excellent choice, especially since you want several, not just 2 or 3.

 

[chasekwe]

Thanks Peter,

Is that due to the smaller max size or for other reasons?

 

[SDguy]

Yes, plus activity levels and hardiness considerations.

If you could go with more delicate species, I'd look at sunset and princess anthias.

 

[snorvich]

I think resplendent anthias would be an excellent choice, especially since you want several, not just 2 or 3.

Yes, I also recommend them; I have 10 of them.