Anthias expert advice wanted

[Drewbaby]

My setup is a 125 gallon tank sps dominated reef tank. I am looking to add a schooling fish and have always wanted anthias. What type of anthias would you suggest? I would like to keep at least 5 of them in the tank, 1 male and the rest females.

If possible would a mixed group do well? For example a pair of Lyretails with some dispars?

 

[Reefnub]

I wouldn't call myself an expert but I do have multiple species in my 120gal. I'm mixing 2x Barlett, 2x Lyretail, 1x Sunburst, 2x Carberri, and 1x Resplendent. I'm planning on adding 2 more Ignitus and 1 more Lyretail. I think all species are ok to mix, I wouldn't recommend adding more than 1 or 2 Bartlett's though. Bartlett's are too aggressive imo, i'd recommend getting a school of Ignitus or Lyretail.

 

[mattsilvester]

I wouldn't call myself an expert either, but personally I would get all females.
The strongest, healthiest fish will grow the largest and fastest, and will transform into a male. I bought (I think) 6 fish - 5 females adn a male. The biggest female in the group adapted to captivity far better than the male - she quickly grew, changed into a male, and overthrew him. I managed to catch what I thought was the old male. As it turned out (I reckon) I had caught the wrong one..... so the same thing happened again. Second time round I managed to remove the correct male.

So, I would be inclined to get (randomly) 5 or 6 females, and let nature take its course, and you will then have a more stable group.

 

[davocean]

Well, just going off my exp lyretails have been fairly easy to keep, and in adding different anthias that may be more sensitive they seem to kind of join in w/ the lyretails and follow their lead in being active and eating, so I think they are a very good anthias to begin with.

 

[SDguy]

I wouldn't call myself an expert either, but personally I would get all females.
The strongest, healthiest fish will grow the largest and fastest, and will transform into a male.

^^ This. I would add, try to get smallish females, to be a bit more certain they are still full females. Lyretails are easier on the system as a whole IME, since once they are established, they can do with "normal" feedings, rather than heavy, frequent feedings.

 

[Drewbaby]

Ok well it sounds like the consensus says they are safe to mix and with my size tank it shouldn't be a problem to do a small handful of them. Also seems like everyone agrees to start with lyretails then add other so they can follow the behavior of the lyretails.

Is there a difference in the anthias as far as where they come from? I was looking at the lyretails and see they are collected from the maldives and fiji. Which would be better? Why?

Also do you forsee a problem keeping a large school of mixed anthias species with tangs? I have a purple tang, tomini tang and a vlamingi tang in the 125.

Thank you all for you help and advice it is greatly appreciated

 

[Mr.Walden]

Tangs and Anthias generally have no issues mixing. Also I have to say, if you don't already know this, that the Vlamingi will outgrow that system. 300 gallons is a minimum for them full grown and preferably a 8' tank. We have a Vlamingi at the shop I work at that has pretty much outgrown the 180 he is in.

 

[Drewbaby]

I know the vlamingi will need at least a 350 when full grown, but he is currently only 2". I always do my research before purchasing a fish, but I thank you for your concern. Im planning on purchasing my own home within the next 3-5 years and I already have plans to do an inwall build of at least 350 gallons if not larger. If something comes up and plans change, then I will have to rehome him. A LFS near me has a 540 he can go to or I live close enough to Sea World where I could donate him and he could go into one of their display aquariums.

 

[Mr.Walden]

Sea World takes fish donated from home aquariums? I wouldn't think so considering the Texas State Aquarium here doesn't.

 

[Drewbaby]

It depends on who you know. My best friend's uncle is a higher up over there so it wont be an issue.

BUMP on my questions about the anthias