Anthias Q

[Lakeside518]

I'm considering add either 2 or 3 Dispar Anthias to my 75 gal reef setup. Would it be best to have 2 or 3? I know it is wise to have the females out number the males. So i was thinking 3 but also concerned with the size tank.

Current stocking is 1- true perc clown, 1- Hippo tang, 1-sailfin tang, 1-copperband butteryfly, 1- crocea clam and 2-cleaner shrimp. Mostly LPS and Softy corals.

 

[reef_doug]

From what I read, it's best to have 3-4 females/1-male --or-- all females and one will change.

They need quite a bit of swimming room and food 2x daily.

I don't have Anthias yet, I hope to get Barletts or Hawiian bi-colors in 1 month.

Good luck
Doug

 

[Lakeside518]

Can you mix anthias with no problems? Say 1- male dispar, 2- female dispars and 1 or 2- Lyretail females?

Thanks for the help

 

[Corn]

the more of the females the better I find but there is some talk that when they get older they will all change into males so you may need to keep stocking females. I have not had anthias that long so I can not tell you if that is true or not. also they need over hangs in the rock work. to get over the feeding put a auto feeder with some dry food that they like (you will need to find out what they like) set the auto feeder for 2 times a day but you will still need to feed frozen food.

 

[Corn]

for the mixing of them it is a risk but I have done it I have 7 dispar and 7 lyretails but I would not do 3 and 3 you need more then that I would not go less then 1 male and 3 females each kind,

 

[john37]

not sure in a 75gal.
but in my 225 i have 2 dispars, 5 lyretails(1male), 2 barletts, 2 tiger queens and 2 sunburst anthias(although they dont act like the others)
the male lyretail is the biggest and the dominant anthias.

watch out they get addictive. good luck.

 

[Silencer]

John, what do you think about adding around 5 dispars and 2-3 squarespots to a 180g with 1 sunburst anthias?

 

[john37]

i think the dispars and sunburst will be fine but squarespots in get much larger than the dispars.
i had a squarespot a while back and it was probably double the size of the dispars...i'd be careful.