Anthias question

[kevinl]

I'm starting to stock back up my fish list since I finally got rid of my problem (starry blenny)
I have a square back anthias now and wanted to get him 2 females, he has been in the tank only 2 weeks, would 2 more weeks be to long to wait to introduce 2 females? I was told they had no females when I ordered him and now I can get a couple females if I want.
I was also wondering if anyone has ever kept more than one species of anthias together? I was thinking of adding a trio of Bartletts or Lyretails as well.
Any favorite fish you have to recommend, looking to keep things peaceful this time around. Tank is a 120 & bare bottom, mostly sps with a few lps and couple zoa's.

Flame angel ??

 

[shred5]

You should be fine adding females anytime, you just can not add a male. Some anthias can be mixed. I have mixed pretty many types myself. Never kept a squareback so I am not sure how aggressive they are, but most anthias are ok mixed and some are found in the wild shoaling together.

I would stay away from a trio of bartletts they have a history of all turning male and fighting. Maybe throw a one lyretail and one bartletts. Males are prettier and they wont shoal most likely anyway and are ok alone.

 

[kevinl]

Thanks Dave,
That gives me options now, was not thinking adding males only. Everything I have been reading refers to adding 1 male with 2,3 or 5 females together.

 

[shred5]

Thanks Dave,
That gives me options now, was not thinking adding males only. Everything I have been reading refers to adding 1 male with 2,3 or 5 females together.

Yep that is if you are going to add females it needs to be in numbers to help spread out aggression. Only one male of a species or they fight and sometimes too death. But males of some species are good alone, some do better in groups but lyretails and Bartlett's are ok with just a male.

Right now I have a bunch of ignitus and some lyretails. Love the ignitus because they actually group up together.

 

[acer]

Dawn gave me a few Lyretail Anthias several months ago = both female and one looked like it was turning into a male- but never did and it killed the other female. So make sure you look over the females you buy Kevin - if they are turning and sold to you as a female - it could get nasty. I probably should have picked up 1 or 2 females and I think that would have taken care of the problem and stimulated the one to fully turn into a male. Now I have a aggressive female.

 

[shred5]

Dawn gave me a few Lyretail Anthias several months ago = both female and one looked like it was turning into a male- but never did and it killed the other female. So make sure you look over the females you buy Kevin - if they are turning and sold to you as a female - it could get nasty. I probably should have picked up 1 or 2 females and I think that would have taken care of the problem and stimulated the one to fully turn into a male. Now I have a aggressive female.

Two females will fight , the desire to be male is great especially if close to the same size. If you have a group usually the smallest is killed first then so on. That's one reason it is suggested such a big tank for lyretails, this gives them room to escape. Also the reason to add a bunch of females to disperse the aggression. The best bet is to buy a bunch of small females and let them work it out.


A single female will eventually turn male.

 

[acer]

ahh... good to know. I figured since the one was turning I would be OK= WRONG!! Thanks for the info. I will wait until the single "it" i have turns completely and then buy a few females. Or maybe its best, because I only have a 65 gallon tank, I will just have the one.