anthias in smaller tanks

[mfinn]

I know that many suggest fairly large tanks for anthias, but I have a friend with a 40b that has 2 small fish in it right now and asked me for recommendations.
I was thinking 2 lyretails.
The tank is a pretty wide open mature lps/sps tank.
She is retired and can do feedings during the day, and is very conservative with changes.

Problems?

 

[jbvdhp]

anthias in smaller tanks

I can't comment on tank size as I have a fairly large one. I'm not sure why these "need" a larger tank, seeing how mine hover around the same spots every day. They DO however need fast flow. They expend energy and a lot of it, swimming in place in the current.

So with my experience, they only occupy a limited amount of tank space.

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[mfinn]

The main reason I suggested anthias, is because my anthias stay pretty much in their areas.
I have 8 in my 240. 5 Lyretails, and 3 ignitus.
The 3 ignitus stay in a area the size of a 20. ( I'm not saying that's the tank size I would keep them in. I'm just using it for reference size.)

The 5 Lyretails pretty much stay in the center 4' of the tank with each having it's own hiding place.

Then they all mix it up when they see me and they think food is coming.

 

[golferbud101691]

I have observed the same with anthias staying in the same areas of a tank even though it may be very large. I would suggest one(1 or 2) of the smaller species(3" max) of anthias because a lyretail can get 5"+ and since they need to be consistently fed, the growth rate is pretty quick. Randall's, resplendent, igntius..even though they can be more finicky. They would also be more proportionate to her current fish.

 

[brett559]

Kept 3 lyretails in a 40 without a problem. Lyretails don't need to feed as often. I fed mine usually twice a day, sometimes once. I plan on adding two female lyretails to my setup, another 42.

 

[jbvdhp]

I used to feed my lyretails once a day. I've seen a dramatic size increase feeding them and the bimacs 2-3x/day (duh, right?)


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