Angels, Anthias, or Wrasses?

[maxxII]

This isnt my first reef tank and I'm pretty well versed in fish keeping, but havent ever been interested in open water swimming fish like fairy/flasher wrasses, anthias, or genicanthus angels until now... But I find myself looking for some colorful fish that are constantly out in the open, cruising around etc.

I've got a 120 gallon (48x24x24) and I'd like to keep 3-4 Hooded Fairy Wrasses, (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus), or 2-3 Lyre tail Anthias ,(Pseudanthias squampinis), or 2-3 Genicanthus Angels,(either bellus or semifasciatus).

The fish would be in QT for awhile before going into the tank and as this is a reboot of a prior system, they would/could be among the first fish in the tank after it was cycled, so there would not be much aggression for them to worry about. I'm very aware that wrasses jump, the tank is and will continue to be covered to protect against that.

I currently have:

(1) small Blue Lined Angelfish, (Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis) approx 2 inches. Had in my care since Jan 2014
(1) medium Scribbled Rabbit Fish (Siganus doliatus) approx 4.5 inches. In my care since April or May of this year.
(1) medium Tomini Tang, (Ctenochaetus tominiensis), approx 3.5 inches. In my care since April or May of 2014.
(1) small Yellow Tang, (Zebrasoma flavescens). Approx 2.75 inches. In my care since April or May of this year.
(1) bonded pair of Darwin black clownfish, (Amphiprion ocellaris) in care for more than a year.
(1) mated pair of Rod's Onyx Perc's, (Amphiprion percula). In my care since 2004.
(1) small Christmas wrasse, (Halichoeres ornatissumus). Approx 2 inches. In my care for 30 days, still in QT.
(1) Starcki Damsel, (Chrysiptera starcki), not in my care yet, will be last fish in the tank.

The tank is aquascaped and designed with my three Ritteri anemones (Heteractis magnifica) in mind. I've had these anemones for a long time, (longest in my care since March 2006) and they will be on separate sides of the tank which is why I'm going to attempt to keep two sets of clowns in them to keep fish out of the anemones.

The open water swimmers generally add color and movement, and also keep the clowns from venturing too far from their anemones. If the clowns stay close to the anemones, they wont bother each other, and they will keep fish from the anemones.

That's the plan anyway....

I'm not necessarily married to the idea of just one of those three species of fish, so if you can think of something else that can fit in along with what I've already got, and can handle some strong flow, I'm willing to listen to suggestions.

 

[sexyseahorse]

Big fan of anthias ��

 

[Joke]

How about a crosshatch triggerfish, if you got the money!

 

[Sapelo]

Honestly I like all of your fish options but for different reasons.
Anthias (I've just acquired my first trio, they are still in QT but I'm already in love) are very bright and active and I'm anticipating seeing them much towards the top of the water column in my 300.
My fairy wrasse is a cruiser, all over the rock work and about but not really as physically active as the anthias, not by any stretch.
I wondered when you said two pair of clowns how that was working out. I don't know if adding active fish will keep them on their nems or not but I guess it's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[mattgumaer]

I voted for fairy wrasses. I like anthias but, depending on type, they can be reasonably aggressive towards each other. They also probably should be fed more frequently than most other fish.

Matt

 

[e048]

For some reason my anthias never seem to live more than a year they all just randomly die...

I like the flasher wrasse and fairy wrasse route I'm doing that in my 140g slowly adding a wrasse every time one leaves qt I get another one and qt him so far I have a yellow meringue wrasse in the dt and a melanrus in qt

 

[maxxII]

How about a crosshatch triggerfish, if you got the money!

Crosshatch triggerfish get too big, and I'm not interested in spending that much money for a fish. I did think about a blue throat trigger or two, but I feel a 4 foot tank is on the small side for a pair. Additionally, I'd rather have a couple of smaller brightly colored fish darting about than one large drab colored fish.

 

[maxxII]

Big fan of anthias ��

Honestly I like all of your fish options but for different reasons.
Anthias (I've just acquired my first trio, they are still in QT but I'm already in love) are very bright and active and I'm anticipating seeing them much towards the top of the water column in my 300.
My fairy wrasse is a cruiser, all over the rock work and about but not really as physically active as the anthias, not by any stretch.
I wondered when you said two pair of clowns how that was working out. I don't know if adding active fish will keep them on their nems or not but I guess it's worth a try. Good luck!

I do like the Anthias as well, but getting healthy anthias locally might be a tough job. Where did you guys get your Anthias? What are you feeding them? How often are you feeding them?

Sapelo, are you just observing them in QT, or are you proactively treating them with meds? If so, what (prazipro etc)?

ETA- Sapelo,
What Fairy Wrasse do you have? What do you feed it? What QT process did you put it through,(if any)?

 

[maxxII]

For some reason my anthias never seem to live more than a year they all just randomly die...

I like the flasher wrasse and fairy wrasse route I'm doing that in my 140g slowly adding a wrasse every time one leaves qt I get another one and qt him so far I have a yellow meringue wrasse in the dt and a melanrus in qt

e048,
What kinds on Anthias do/did you have? What were you feeding them?

What kinds of Fairy and Flasher wrasses do you have? What are you feeding them? Did you QT them? What sort of process did you use when QT'ing them?

Flasher wrasses seem to be easier to get locally, and I'm more than happy to buy online, but prefer to buy locally, if possible.

 

[Duke4life]

Fairy and flashers are very entertaining and awesome fish and meet everyone of your criteria. Pick 3-4 different you ones you like instead of a single type, you still get the flairing and flashing. QT everyone does differently, I'd do ttm and PraziPro with using copper as a last resort as some wrasses are sensitive to it. I have a few and they can be found in my signature, with the pink margin and carpenters my favorite.

 

[Dmorty217]

How about a crosshatch triggerfish, if you got the money!

Tank isn't large enough. I would go with the wrasse with your current fish list.

 

[maxxII]

Fairy and flashers are very entertaining and awesome fish and meet everyone of your criteria. Pick 3-4 different you ones you like instead of a single type, you still get the flairing and flashing. QT everyone does differently, I'd do ttm and PraziPro with using copper as a last resort as some wrasses are sensitive to it. I have a few and they can be found in my signature, with the pink margin and carpenters my favorite.

Good to know. I'd always thought that the males would lose color and stop flashing if there were no females present.

 

[Joke]

Tank isn't large enough. I would go with the wrasse with your current fish list.

Yeah i wasnt thinking, good pickup

 

[Joke]

I definitely was not paying attention to the tank size

 

[FishN00b83]

anthias all the way. I have fatheads, bartletts, and lyrtails in my 180...anthias are always out swimming and having a good time

 

[twon8]

Angels, Anthias, or Wrasses?

Good to know. I'd always thought that the males would lose color and stop flashing if there were no females present.

Nope. If there's other male fairy/flasher wrasses in the tank they will flash at each other frequently.

I've got a genicanthus angel, five lyre tail anthias and a bunch of wrasses in my 300 and for the most part they all get along.

Kuiter leopard male
Trio of New Guinea Anampses wrasses
Filamented flasher
Eight line flasher

Fairy wrasses:
Rhomboid male (largest but very peaceful)
Hooded male
Flame pair
Labouti male (boss among fairys)
Red stripe
Pyles
Lubbocks male
Adornatus male (very bossy esp considering size)
Red velvet male

And I've got a pintail fairy in QT along with a tiny regal angel and a purple tuka anthias. I plan to remove the lyretails as they are constantly picking at each other

 

[Theokie]

If you can, see if you can get the Indian Ocean variant of the Lyretail, much brighter colours then the "normal" ones, I have a school of 15 in my 200, so much movement and colour.