Calling Anthias Experts-how to add additional numbers?

[Quiverfull]

So I knew these were going to be challenging. I bought three lyre tails one male and two females. First it appeared the male got beat up by the two females then the two females went at it until now I only have one female in the 20l qt. have had it now for close to a month. She is eating flake and mysis without problems and looks healthy. My question is how can I add more? Should I put this female in my display and start with another three small females or keep this one in the QT and add the other 3 with a tank divider (egg crate) or just add them without divider since this one is eating so well? I appreciate he help.

 

[Quiverfull]

Bump

 

[davocean]

Well, the best is to start w/ all young females IMO if you can, but you are past that now.
Hard to say in that small space if it led to added aggression, maybe.
I would probably go ahead and add male to display and get more females in QT IF you can get small young females that can go through QT process and not begin change, and I'd avoid females of any decent size for that reason.
I also prefer at least 3 females per male to spread around the males badgering among them

 

[iced98lx]

In my limited experience, ensuring size differentiation and plenty of hiding places is key with the lyretails. I currently have two males in my tank due to not getting the sizes I wanted, and catching these guys isn't a lot of fun.

If it were me, since you've got 1 left I'd either attempt to find some females that are significantly smaller or ones that are roughly the same size with one larger.

Note, even after dominance is established they will chase/etc to keep it. If I were to do it again I would be looking for 2-5 much smaller females and one male in the 3-4 inch range. My two remaining females are 1.5-2 inches and the males are both about 3.5-4 inches.

Make sure you have shelter in the QT to hide in when they chase.

 

[iced98lx]

Woops davocean beat me to it and he would be someone I would certainly take advice from

 

[davocean]

Lol, thanks, but you did touch on a key element of hiding places, and yeah that was kind of on my mind thinking a small QT tank and nowhere to go/hide probably made it a relentless chasing period

 

[iced98lx]

I agree, just based on what I have seen which does not include any fin nipping while they were establishing a chain of command, even when one female was turning male with another in the tank I didn't see any physical damage to any of the females or males.

that is of course, just one experience.

 

[Quiverfull]

So I placed the one remaining in my display. QT empty and ready to go. May try three small females

 

[ca1ore]

You don't say how large the female is. I think the most prudent approach would be to add small females just in case your resident has begun to transition.

 

[Quiverfull]

She is 2 to 2 1/4".

 

[Aww7979]

Looks like there are plenty of hiding places. I think the key to anthias is in the number. I tried two and three and always seemed to not make it. I was able to buy a 13, a mix of lyre tail, pink, and dispar, and immediately they schooled, became brave and swam openly around the tank. I think they grow too shy in low numbers and that adds too much stress. I'm currently down to 9 fish in the school and I'm planning on getting a few more. The challenge I have now is trying to emulate constant feeding through out the day with out polluting the water.

 

[SDguy]

With lyretails, I never had an issue simply adding tiny/small females.

 

[Quiverfull]

Thank you both for the advice. Finding small females seems to be a bit of a challenge.