anthias in sps tank

[Big E]

Looking at most of these replies no one has really kept these fish very long. One 3 years & the rest less than 2 years.

Just my observations, but most of those pics look to me like they are thin in the stomach area. Instead of rounded underneath its flat or concave.

In my experience they need small frequent feedings. The one day feedings fill them up fast & they aren't able to digest all that bulk at once so it gets pooped out. The one day feedings if heavy, also lead to bacteerial infections in the digestive systems.

I consider success closer to 8-10 years for marine fish. My lyretails lasted 5+ years before they started dropping one by one, epecially over the last year.

I still have a male Bartlett.......lost the female at the 4 year mark.

Looking back I tried to feed twice a day but most of the time it was once a day.

If I can't maintain marine fish for 10 years I consider it a failure. I'd like to hear from some reeefers that have kept any anthias long term or at least over 5 years.

I'm willing to bet most have the males the longest time as they are at the top of the pecking order & get at the food first. That's the way it has been for me. I always tried to feed enough based on if the lowest female in the harem was getting it's share.

 

[Mr aqua]

Twon8, thanks for the suggestions. I have pellet food I'm going try but cyclopz sounds like a good idea too so I'll have to try that.

Jay24k, why don't you think Anthias will work in small systems? Are they jumpers like flasher wrasses or is it just in their nature to like a lot of space. I had the same concerns myself, thats why I only went with one to see how she'd fair in a 20G. I know in the wild they are reef dwellers usually staying about mid dept to catch plankton from upwellings, so thats probably the issue. They are used to lots of flow, (which I have) and frequent small feedings (which I'm starting to practice). One cube of brine, chopped up three ways fed morning, when I get home from work, and just a little before lights out. So hopefully this regiment, mixed in with other foods will help out...

Now all I have to do is nail this hydroid and asternia starfish nuisance!!

 

[MarineTeng]

hmm how's the anthias doing in the 20 gallon, i was thinking of doing a similar thing with a 30 gallon with high flow, like around or over 1000gph via seio 620, an over flow, return and skimmer which is undecided at this point,
i think anthias need big tanks cause they like the swimming area i think,
also a thought on the asternia starfish
are they these

cause not everyone considers them bad, though some are known to eat sps some are helpful cleaners, just a thought though,

 

[AcroSteve]

I just started keeping them in my tank. I have changed my feeding habits because of their reputation.

They usually get two feedings per day. However, the feedings are only about an hour apart.

I have only had them a short time, so we will see how it goes. When they were in QT, they got two feedings about 10 hours apart. They ate more in the 2nd feeding. 1st one was only about 30 minutes after lights on.

 

[64Ivy]

I have a LOT of Anthias: 15 (at least) Bartletts, 6 Bimaculatus, and 2 Olives all in a 500g SPS dominant tank with other tankmates of various species. Usually, I feed everyone twice a day. On days that I'm home, I'll feed a third time at midday, usually Cyclopeeze as the Anthias especially love it and it's too small for some of the others to bother with. As much as they move, I'd have to think Anthias expend a tremendous amount of energy every day and really appreciate the fuel. Do they NEED it? Maybe not. But then, neither do I but I'm pretty darn ornery without them. And all I do is sit around talking to YOU guys all day .

By the way, Big E, a few of my Bartletts are over 5 years old. I used to have a decent shoal of Bicolors that also lasted nearly 5 years but began dropping like flies. They looked old. I'm not sure Anthias are a very long lived fish. Perhaps I'll start another thread asking who has the oldest Anthias. But not right now. I'm getting kinda hungry .

 

[jay24k]

Some might do fine in a smaller tank but most of what I've read always required larger tanks. Many anthias get very large. The one I posted is around 5". I don't see how a 5" anthias is going to be happy in a 30 gallon tank.

 

[Big E]

By the way, Big E, a few of my Bartletts are over 5 years old. I used to have a decent shoal of Bicolors that also lasted nearly 5 years but began dropping like flies. They looked old. I'm not sure Anthias are a very long lived fish.

Thanks, for the info...........could be that they only do last 5 years or so. Hopefully more will chime in.

 

[Mr aqua]

MarineTang, my female lyre tail or blue eyed anthias is cool so far. but keep in mind it's been under a week since introduction into the system. hopefully she'll adapt to the enviroment. so far she stays active and has a few holes in the LR to hide in when scared or "tired". I noticed it feeds a lot more aggressively when you "dust" the tank and dump in brine.

Looks healthy, definitely has the appetite and her stomach isn't sunken in, so with any luck I'll be able add another female and a male. As I understand it, they prefer odd numbered groups?

Next time I'm at the LFS I'm going to buy some cyclops and see how that fairs. So far I've been sticking to the same routine, feed morn before work, heavily once I get home from work/class (about a 14 hr difference), and lightly once again before I crash. (about 4 hours later).

Those starfish that somebody posted are exactly what I have, I do notice that some of them will cruise on my sand bed, they dont really sift or anything so I can't really tell if they are feeding on detritus, but I do notice them on my LR and I do notice white patches so... although inconclusive as pest or not, they do look quite dubious hugging my LR.

so I'm thinking bumble bee shrimp, since my harlequin didn't survive the first night

 

[Jeffie]

We have 10 4" dispar anthias in a 450 gallon exhibit that get fed once a day 5 times a week. A mix of mysis, krill, chopped shrimp, formulas, etc. etc. and are fat and healthy. we've had them for 2 years now...

 

[MarineTeng]

i believe they eat algae and detritus, maybe not detritus but i'm pretty sure about the algae, some types though not most eat acros, that's why a lot of people don't like them,

and i'll wait on the anthias, probably be one of the few fish i add to the tank, i tend to feed my fish small amounts several times over about 8 hours so hopefully that works well, how do they feed with lights off? cause i won't have that long of a photoperiod and it'd probably help if i feed my hopefully future anthias in the morning.

 

[Mr aqua]

mine tends to feed at night so long as there is ambient light going into the tank, like a moon light or room light.

 

[Corn]

here are mine

 

[MarineTeng]

here ya go,

 

[DarkXerox]

I try to feed my two bartletts twice a day in my 29G (brine, fomula1, mysis). The pair in the 55g get fed once/twice a day depending on how busy work is, but they pick pods and other crustaceans off the rock all day long.

 

[dwdowney]

Has anyone had any success with an automatic feeder?

 

[ClownReef®]

Here are a couple of pictures of mine. They eat alot, i call them my little sharks..although i do feed them twice a day. The male squareback has an affinity for krill..he has a big mouth..Hope yall like.

Just a tank pic..you can see them in there..I only have a pair.

 

[MarineTeng]

your tank is amazing, especially like the clown the the two islands set up of aquascaping, i tried to do that, mine didn't look nearly as nice, your anthias look huge, 4-5" i'm geussing

 

[ClownReef®]

Thanks MARINE-- The male is pretty big..ive thought about eating him a couple of times..ol..

The aquascaping took a while, but i think it looks good..

As far as anthias go..they are picky eaters (duh)..i originally got 2 female, but 1 didnt make it..but they look happy..so, i may add 1 more in the future..who knows.