Anthias recommendation

[BlackTip]

I love Anthias, and I'd like to have a group of 5-7 fishes. I was considering Lyretail Anthias, until I came across a post that states they will kill each other, until one fish left.

My tank will be somewhat peaceful mixed reef. Currently I have a Jawfish, a Goby, a Gramma, a Flasher Wrasse, a FireFish, and a Bleny.

In the future, I'll like to add Anthias, Tangs, Clowns, and Dwarf Angel.

So, which species of Anthias do you recommend and have success with? I am particularly interested in highly active Anthias.

Thanks,

 

[Bill Nye]

I have had good luck with Bartlett's but they are a little more boisterous than some of the other anthias. I have clownfish, a purple fire fish and a black axial chromis with them and the supermale will harass the other fish sometimes.

The clownfish either ignore him or the female will sometimes display back at him. My firefish doesn't take any of his crap and will stand his ground no problem. The chromis gets chased sometimes but never any physical contact.

Overall, they are very easy to care for and are active as well. I got mine from Divers Den and they ate anything I put in the tank from day 1. They stick together in my tank pretty nicely too.

 

[ca1ore]

I have not had much long-term success with any of the Franzia subgenus (lyretails, redstripe, huchtii) as they all have tended to winnow themselves down to just a single individual. I did have a group of lyretails for over a year one time before they started dying off.

I like bartletts (though other folks do not) in a large tank, though they are chippy and you will end up with multiple males. My favorite are bimacs, though they get large and are expensive. I also really like resplendents, as they stay small and are reasonably priced. They are less aggressive, so may hover around the rocks if you have other larger fish.

 

[pstank1]

I'd look at the ignitus, resplendents, randalls or carberryi. They all stay relatively small and are on the gentler side. I've heard it's difficult to get female randalls though, so maybe sticking with the other three species.

 

[SDguy]

Lyretails will not kill each other, unless you put males with other males, or with females that have already started transitioning. Just get a bunch of small females, and you'll be fine. One will turn male. In a tank that size, you'll have no issue.