Anthias

[Teen Aquarist]

Could i keep an anthias in my 24 gallon reef? They are my favorite fish. Some people think they should be kept in groups but bob fenner's book said one would be fine. What kind of anthias would be the best? Thanks TA BTW all my water readings are fine.

 

[TWallace]

You can keep them singly just fine. I recommend lyretail (Pseudanthias squamipinis) or Bartlett's. They both readily adapt to captivity and adapt to frozen/flake/pellet food very easily. Avoid purple queen, tuka, evansi, ventralis (not likely to even see them anyway) and possibly dispar as these all have a lot of trouble with accepting food in captivity, though dispar is much easier than the others I mentioned.

I'd say a 24g is enough space for one anthias.

 

[Teen Aquarist]

My favorite one is the Pseudanthias dispar ( Dispar Anthias) Would he be ok with my Purplestripe dottback, flame hawkfish, Pink Skunk Clown, 2 false clowns and my diamond goby? What foods would the Dispar Anthias like best?

 

[CeeGee]

Don't these fish really like to swim? I would stay with smaller fish if it were me.

 

[Teen Aquarist]

Bumpity bump bump

 

[SDguy]

I would do a single fathead anthias. They don't swim around nearly as much as Pseudanthias species, and do fine alone.

Edit: Ooops, just read your sig. I would NOT add one to your already more than fully stocked tank.

 

[Teen Aquarist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11870228#post11870228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I would do a single fathead anthias. They don't swim around nearly as much as Pseudanthias species, and do fine alone.

Edit: Ooops, just read your sig. I would NOT add one to your already more than fully stocked tank.

My water readings are all good and I keep them good by doing a 5 gallon water change once a week. Would it be ok with my other fish?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

The only anthias I would keep in that size tank would be a fathead/sunburst, but I agree that it sounds like you already have enough.

 

[wrott]

That's alot of fish in a 24g, but a tricolor (red bar-vertical) anthias could hold it's own, and stay pretty small.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/2076/product.web
I could be wrong about max size--I was brousing and found one article that said they can grow 6"???

 

[Teen Aquarist]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=93&N=0

Ok i like the tricolor one. This would be my last fish.

 

[Snowboarda42]

Yikes! Thats a lot of fish for a 24G. I have 5 in my 40G with a 20L sump and I consider mine heavily stocked. You might think about getting a bigger tank first.

BTW, what are your params (like nitrate and phosphate)?

 

[reefheath]

Teen,
it isn't all about water parameters, just having a crowded tank could stress you fish alone, even with pristine conditions. If it was all about water quality then it wouldn't bother a fish if he was constantly harrassed by another. I recommend a larger tank, taking a fish back to the store as a trade, or just not adding any more fish at all. We as humans don't always want to be in a crowded room, your fish don't either. Good Luck!

 

[CeeGee]

I was flamed for having three small fish in a 38 gallon.

 

[Teen Aquarist]

I have never had a fish die on my for two years. My parents wont let me get rid of any fish btw.

 

[OneReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11874146#post11874146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Teen Aquarist
I have never had a fish die on my for two years. My parents wont let me get rid of any fish btw.

I don't think it is about if the fish will die or not, but about what is best for the fish. You linked to a LiveAquaria page that showed the minimum size for that fish is 70g. Most folks would say you have too many fish in the 24 already, and you want to add another that would be better off in a 75g minimum..... Not bashing you, you asked for opinions and that is mine. You could probably keep 15 fish alive in the 24g, but that would not be best for the fish........ I have an Aquapod 24g and have 2 fish in it. Most people would say 3 is ok, and 4 is pushing the limit. You have 6 and are looking to add more. Just my .02

 

[westhaven reef]

Barlett seem to be easiest to keep and have great colors. Keep in mind with anthias they need to be feed small meals multiple times per day.

 

[Teen Aquarist]

My nitates are 12 and every thing else is good. BTW I was not abile to do water changes for awhile so when i could they where at 25 but now there down to 12 and droping.

 

[reefheath]

Teen,
For the second time, It's not about your nitrates, it's about being overcrowded. No doubt you can manage it with the water changes, but it's kind of inhumane.

 

[Dustin1231]

love my dispars!!!

 

[Teen Aquarist]

I realy dont want to make my tank overstocked, so I will wait too get more fish until i get a bigger tank.