Anthias are hiding after being active for months

[amcvay1979]

From my observations from trying to establish harems and reading about how to do it, the lyretails and most other species are just plain mean to each other. The females will basically pick on the smallest in the group constantly, chasing it around the tank and eventually it will starve or just get so stressed it stops eating. Didn't matter if I added them all at the same time, or a few at a time, the smallest one would eventually be so picked on that it would die. Same with Bartlett's, the smallest would just get picked on to death. You'd see fins with bites out of them, etc. I really did love the constant swimming and schools of anthias in my tank but I'm just done with them, I think they belong in the ocean and that's where I'll keep them.

 

[karimwassef]

They need a common enemy and a larger community to socialize with.

 

[BlackTip]

I wanted Anthias, since I started design my tank. I was about to pull the trigger and buy 7 Dispars last month, but I changed my mind at the last minute. Everything I read, indicates that they are almost impossible to keep for the long term. I was told by an experienced reefer that I need one male and at least 10-12 females, so the aggression is distributed among large number. Although, I still like them and I'd love to try, I am very hesitant, and most likely won't do it.

 

[RedStangGA]

I wanted Anthias, since I started design my tank. I was about to pull the trigger and buy 7 Dispars last month, but I changed my mind at the last minute. Everything I read, indicates that they are almost impossible to keep for the long term. I was told by an experienced reefer that I need one male and at least 10-12 females, so the aggression is distributed among large number. Although, I still like them and I'd love to try, I am very hesitant, and most likely won't do it.

Hmm, I'd thought about doing 6-7 Lyretails and 6-7 of another anthias like resplendent, ingnitus, or evansi in my upcoming 220 build. But if it takes that large of a harem to keep them happy I'd certainly go with a single type.

Anthias and wrasses are my favorite fish by far so I'm likely to give it a shot. The only fish coming over from my 60 are a pair of ocellaris and an orange back fairy wrasse. Kids want a tang or two and I wouldn't mind a yellow but that could well be the only one. I'd prefer more smaller fish to a few large ones. So anthias could fit that bill very well.

 

[karimwassef]

when I first added them

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nvwztbOczuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

intimidated by the boisterous big tangs

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4E7U4obybM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

careful curiosity

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uNGUMk9uQlw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BlackTip]

Hmm, I'd thought about doing 6-7 Lyretails and 6-7 of another anthias like resplendent, ingnitus, or evansi in my upcoming 220 build. But if it takes that large of a harem to keep them happy I'd certainly go with a single type.

Anthias and wrasses are my favorite fish by far so I'm likely to give it a shot. The only fish coming over from my 60 are a pair of ocellaris and an orange back fairy wrasse. Kids want a tang or two and I wouldn't mind a yellow but that could well be the only one. I'd prefer more smaller fish to a few large ones. So anthias could fit that bill very well.

I think that would work for you, if your main interest is in Anthias. For me, I'd like to have many different types of fish. It is my first tank, so I want to try every type of fish I can.


Kareem:
That is a great looking tank dude.
Any problems with that many tangs?
What is the bright yellow slender fish in the second video? I like it.

 

[davocean]

I don't think Lyretails are that difficult to keep at all, and while the male does keep them in check, my tank is still very peaceful, wouldn't have it any other way and would not keep them if it wasn't.
The key is having enough females to spread the males buggering around, at least 3-4 females per male.
Other anthia can be difficult, but from my exp lyretails actually encourage them to eat and lessen the shyness, so IME it worked out great to start w/ lyre's and then add other types of anthia.

 

[karimwassef]

Kareem:
That is a great looking tank dude.
Any problems with that many tangs?
What is the bright yellow slender fish in the second video? I like it.

Thanks. The tank has a complex rockwork where all the fish can hide and can swim loops avoiding the corner trap situations. There's as much, if not more, water volume behind the visible rockwork as there is in front. It helps keep things 'normal'. It's also a big tank - 3' x 8'.

The tang situation actually gets better with more of them. An aggressor has to worry about being attacked too - so only the biggest can take that risk. And the biggest are more concerned with food than the group of little smaller tangs.

I snorkel and I see these guys in nature. They school together to feed over large distances - they need room to move together as a team.

The same with anthias by the way. They school because it's in their best interest to be together. They find protection and they feed as a group.

The little yellow fish is a banana wrasse - good for parasites.

 

[BlackTip]

Thanks. The tank has a complex rockwork where all the fish can hide and can swim loops avoiding the corner trap situations. There's as much, if not more, water volume behind the visible rockwork as there is in front. It helps keep things 'normal'. It's also a big tank - 3' x 8'.

The tang situation actually gets better with more of them. An aggressor has to worry about being attacked too - so only the biggest can take that risk. And the biggest are more concerned with food than the group of little smaller tangs.

I snorkel and I see these guys in nature. They school together to feed over large distances - they need room to move together as a team.

The same with anthias by the way. They school because it's in their best interest to be together. They find protection and they feed as a group.

The little yellow fish is a banana wrasse - good for parasites.

Sounds like you have a perfect habitat for your fish.

When I did my rockwork, I placed the rocks about 6-7" from the back wall for more flow, then I regretted it. I felt like I wasted space, but it was too late to modify it. Is that how your rockwork set up?


Does your banana wrasse harass or eat shrimps like peppermint and skunk cleaner?

 

[karimwassef]

The back area needs to be actively circulated or it gets sick. I had to add additional hidden powerheads that create no visible flow, but move water through the background.

I have as much as 20" back there in some cases. Corals grow in the lit area, so the lit surface area is what determines the living space.

My banana wrasse is a pod/worm/parasite eater. Doesn't bother the bigger shrimp. My melanarus is the same.