Anthias for 420

M

MammoDoc

New member
I've been reading many, many threads about Anthias and need some advice about stocking. I have a 420 g (7.5 x 3 x 2.5 ft) tank with 4 tangs (Naso, Hippo, Yellow and Orange shoulder) who are juvis, Midas blennie, Swiss Guard basslet, Yellow Coris wrasse (juvi and tiny), and 7 fairy/flasher wrasses who are on the more peaceful side. I was hoping to add a group of Anthias to the tank. I am looking at the Resplendents and was wondering if they would be OK with the current inhabitants? I know Lyretail and Bartletts are supposed to be more hardy, but they are probably too aggressive for my wrasses. I am looking for relatively hardy Anthias. Any advice is appreciated.
 
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A group meaning 3 or 15? I think The species is more dependent on how many you add. Obviously adding a lot of lyretails probably wouldn't be the best idea. I'm a fan of the fat head sunburst myself, and the randalls. But, if you QT them, a big group of resplendents would be very nice!
 
Good question -- a group meaning 5.

There is a lot of activity in the tank -- no one is mean, but the current fish love to swim. I has a Sunburst that did not do well because of the activity of the fish. So I'm looking for a group that will join in.
 
at 5, I think you are right on the bubble. could go with the smaller resplendents, or could go with the bigger, more aggressive species as well. Do you have plenty of hiding places? also what size are the wrasses currently? as long as you add the anthias all at the same time, and they are smaller than your wrasses, you should be fine. 420 gallons is big!
 
Plenty of live rock and hiding places. And plenty of swimming room with 7 1/2 ft of length. Wrasses are Royal, Exquisite, Pink Margin, Flame, Solarensis, Orange back, McCoskers, Yellow Coris and "Blue and Red" (that's what it was called at the LFS).
 
Yeah...I wouldn't add the larger species of anthias yet. Not until those wrasses get a little bigger. Heck, you might want to add a larger group, like 10 of the known peaceful species knowing you might have a fatality. Some fish just don't do well in an aquarium environment and it is sometimes more fish specific rather than species specific. I would pursue the fish you know you like/enjoy, even though they might not be as hardy. Whatever brings you more happiness when you look at the tank.
 
You're fine with whatever you choose. That is a big enough tank, your wrasses are not overly aggressive(solorensis can be) but I doubt they will even remotely look twice at the anthias.
If it's a more aggressive group(bartletts or lyretail) make sure only 1 male. If not really aggressive(resplendents, Randall's, paravirustis, etc) then probably not as bad. Although I'd go 8 or more in that size tank. The more, the merrier with anthias. Especially if you have the filtration to handle them all
 
So do you think mixing 2 groups of 5, such as Ignitus and Randall's, would be good or better to have a larger group of one species? It seems like the more passive species could be mixed without aggression? I'm planning on getting all females and letting them figure out who is dominant.
 
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My favorite mix is ignitus and lyretails. I don't have experience with randalls (or tiarra) but they have a different look (body shape) so I never really tried. Dispar are also nice to mix if you can get healthy, well handled ones.... I like carberryi a lot too.
 
Peter -- is that from a coexistence point of view or an aesthetic point of view? Or both? Just concerned that Lyretails may be too aggressive for the wrasses. Any experience with that combo?
 
I personally never experience aggression from lyretails, even in a 150g, so I certainly wouldn't sweat it in a 400+g tank ;)

I think many times people try to mix lyretails that are already dominant/turning male, even if the colors don't show it yet, and end up with competing/fighting fish. I always liked buying really small lyretail females.... never any issues with them... and they are darn cute when they are small :D
 
Randalls and resplendents are essentially the same species. I have 11 in my 265 along with tangs, butterflys, angles and a large wrasse - and they don't give the anthias a second look. I don't find anthias to be overly aggressive outside their own species.
 
Yes, as Peter said, carberryi are nice. They are similar in color to bartletts but with no real temperament like bartletts. They are also pretty hardy for anthias as well. I forgot about them, which is funny since I have 1 at the moment.
 
And they don't get big. I plan on putting a shoal of 20-30 anthias in my 860. Primarily being dispars, carberryi and 3-5 borbonius
 
why not add a number of different species? I had close to 50 anthias in a 260 years ago and they did great together. My personal favorites are Bimaculatus and although a larger sized anthias are very cool and the colors are tough to beat (male and female) . If memory serves I had lyretails, Bimaculatus, Hutchi, Dispars, tricolors and perhaps a few more. In a 400+ tank you could get a lot of movt and color from anthias!
 
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