Anthias anyone?

[AtlanticBlue]

How many anthias could be kept comfortably in a 180 if the tank was dedicated to anthias? In other words, no big aggressive fish like tangs around. This would be a sps/clam tank with tons of live rock and a msx-250 while doing regular water changes. (refugium = 50 gallons and sump = 50 gallons)

What anthias would YOU stock? All females go in first correct? I've seen people mix many females of different species...but no so much with the males. Is this correct?

 

[N0okie]

The males are the aggressive ones, and tend to keep the females in line, but sometimes the larger females are aggressive as well. Some people recommend putting in only females in order to let the largest turn into a male, and that will make sure that the male is the most dominant fish. In a 180, with different species, I would say that you could probably get away with about 20 or so anthias. They stay relatively small, and as long as there is a good amount of room for swimming, and a lot of hiding places in the rocks the anthias should do fine.

 

[reefman8471]

Anthias

Anthias

I concur. If you are not going to introduce all females and let one turn into a male you need to introduce the male with the females and make sure that none of the females are in the process of turning into males as that will cause a problem. Also, that is the reason to introduce the male with the females to prevent the transformation from happening.

James

 

[idareefer]

keep a covered top, they are jumpers! I lost 2 nice looking male bartletts, found them on the floor dead

 

[AtlanticBlue]

Very good information all! Hmmm, covered top, that might be a problem. Any way to keep it open tops and keep em in the tank?

Also, when you say 20 anthias...you're talking about a mix of species? If so, which ones? Which ones would YOU do?

 

[idareefer]

bartletts are the toughest of the bunch and great looking fish, I have a school of them, minus 2 now from jumping out, I also have a trio of tiger queen anthias, more timid & almost as hard to keep like the purple tuka's, but have been doing well for nearly 6 months now, squami's are also pretty east to keep, good luck!

 

[AtlanticBlue]

Won't Anthias eat my shrimp??

 

[idareefer]

just the little guys, pod size shrimps, larger ones will be fine

 

[cl2ysta1]

i put 8 hutchiis in one male seven females
and 8 flames.. one male seven females

this was about 3-4 months ago. none of the females have turned male on me the males are pretty agressive and keep their women in line

 

[AtlanticBlue]

What about doing Anthias with some wrasses? Some like the mystery wrasses, flasher wrasses etc. Now what kind of fish list could I be looking at as far as bioload in a 72x24x24 tank? Nutrient export won't be an issue due to big skimmer, refugium, and regular water changes...I'm just wondering about space availability. How many wrasses/anthias could I do? Again with no big fish in their way...

 

[cl2ysta1]

i successfully have...
6 flames
5 hutchiis
2 skunks
2 percs
temenicki
lubbocks
yellow fin
clown fairy
exquisite
pink margin pair
mystery
labouti
2 cleaners
hippo
bic
blue eye
achillis
small dussemier tang
2 mandarins
2 bar gobies


in a 220 cube. no sand bed. remote deepsand bed with macro, and a geo skimmer with no problems with water quality. I feed heavily, and do RELIGOUS 10% minimum water changes weekly. No exceptions. I also siphon deutritis off the bottom either weekly or bi weekly depending on if its bad or not.

 

[cl2ysta1]

bic is a scribble rabbit fish.. haha sorry

 

[AtlanticBlue]

So the Anthias either get added females first or ALL of them together? Meaning all species together? I'm kinda lost on this one...

And as far as the Wrasses, how do you add them?

 

[AtlanticBlue]

P.S. I have never had an Anthia but see online that you can buy them M or F...how do you KNOW when you get them that what you have ordered is in fact either M or F? Just by coloration?

 

[cl2ysta1]

for the anthias i've had success adding them all at once. wrasses you should add in groups.. two at a time. not sure on how many your are planning. that way they dont pick on one. also add the least aggressive ones first. You can also use a specimen container to socially acclimate them.

 

[AtlanticBlue]

cl2ysta1: Can I see a pic of your tank with all of those fish in it?

 

[cl2ysta1]

haha sure. Give me a sec i've just taken a new one today

 

[cl2ysta1]

 

[cl2ysta1]

 

[cl2ysta1]

blue eye runs the tank