Best choice of anthias.

[MG21]

What are the best anthias for my 240 reef? Adaptability to metal halide lighting, disposition, ease of care. Any help is appreciated.

 

[tom obrecht]

Here are some of which I have had through the years:Hutchi...not real colorful but hardy. Lyretails...hardy and can be quite colorful depending on where they are collected. My personal lyretail favs are from the Maldives. Bicolors...fair on hardiness as long as you feed them numerous times per day to keep weight on them. Bartletts...hardy and colorful. Caraberri...fine detail, fair on hardiness. Bimaculatus...my personal favorite...needs good water quality...awesome color...can be pricey. Squareblock...larger anthias species like the Bimacs, nice color. I've also tried fathead or sunburst with little luck. Think for my tank there is too much motion to make them comfortable. I currently keep all the mentioned together without too much aggression. If I had to do over again I would stick with a group of Bimacs, Bartletts, Maldive Lyretails and Bicolors.

 

[raven567]

I have a trio of Bartlett's and Fathead/Sunbursts. Both are great looking fish and seem to be hardy. They're the only ones I have experience with.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

I have 2 bartlett's and 3 sqarespot in my 240. all seem to be doing fine with no aggression.

 

[Tyrosinase]

From what I have read Bartlett's Anthia are your best bet for adaptability to metal halide lighting. Many of the other fish will live in a tank that has strong lights, but the color may fade over time. Additionally, the Bartlett's anthias are one of the easiest anthias to keep.

 

[deepblue68]

now when you say hardiest to keep are you talking just for anthias species or there a hardy fish period. iam looking for some colorful small schooling type fish to put with my pbt.

 

[Psyire]

I have 7 Bartlett's in my 180g. Absolutely stunning to see them streak all over the tank. (Yellow/Pink)

Pic of one of my males:

 

[deepblue68]

beautiful fish. do you have any pictures of your tank? that is the kind of look iam going for with my powder blue tang.

 

[MG21]

Ended up going with the lyretails. Got 5 females and they are all eatind brine and mysis. Will have to look for a male now.

 

[Teremei]

you don't nessecarily have to look for a male. The dominant female will morph into a male. Just let nature take it's course.

 

[Rendos]

Exactly right. This fish changed from this...

into this...

Squamipinnis are great fish...very active, open water swimmers with passive dispositions. You will really enjoy them.

 

[Julio]

if you are a starter with anthias then i woudl recomend you go with Barletts or Lyretails, when you get some experience under you belt then you can go with some bimaculatus and Pictilis

 

[deepblue68]

beautiful fish!thanks for the advice.iam going to gowith lyretailsmost likely.

 

[Amphiprion]

I second the votes for the Bartletts' anthias. Usually much better behaved than the lyretails.

 

[deepblue68]

anybody have any idea of a small schooling fish that is peaceful other then chromis ?

 

[Julio]

blue eyed cardinals.

 

[picture the reef]

Julio, are you refering to apogon leptacanthus?

 

[deepblue68]

ok
how about peaceful damsels? are there such a thing like maybe fiji tail, purple or yellow damsels?

 

[Julio]

Not sure of the scientific name, i need to look it up.

 

[jda]

Anybody mention blue eye and/or sunburst anthias? I have had good luck with both and they are awesome.