Can I keep 1 barlett and 1 sunburst in an 82g?

[Kinetic]

Can I keep 1 Barlett Anthia and 1 Sunburst anthia in my 82g display tank, or will they fight?

 

[Julio]

yes but, try and keep the barletts in a small group if you can as they do better in groups.

 

[Kinetic]

they don't do as well alone? why is that?

(i'm trying to get as diverse a group of fish as I can, because my 82g isn't large enough to keep a couple groups of fish.)

 

[irmee4]

bartletts dont do as well living alone bc in the wild they school with hundreds. they will live but they wont color up as much.

 

[Kinetic]

this is the first I've ever heard.

why wouldn't they color up much when living alone?

 

[SDguy]

They'll have a pecking order. This pecking order is a dynamic situation...each individual will always be trying to keep it's place or even surpass the next higher up. This involves moderate aggression (usually just displays with an occasional short chase) as well as bright colors. A male bartlett, for example, will usually have much brighter colors when females are present, IME.

 

[Kinetic]

oh. interesting. I doubt I could keep 3 in my 82g. too little room. I will have about 150 gallons of total water volume and a huge ASM G3 skimmer running... so I think it's more about space rather than bioload. what do you guys think?

 

[Tyrosinase]

I think 3 Barletts would do fine in an 82 gallon tank. These are actually some of the smallest Anthias out there. I think their maximum size 3.5 inches. I say go for it!

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6659875#post6659875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tyrosinase
I think 3 Barletts would do fine in an 82 gallon tank. These are actually some of the smallest Anthias out there. I think their maximum size 3.5 inches. I say go for it!

I agree...they are small fish. Their food requirements are much more problematic than physical space requirements. I had a trio in a 30g tank for almost a year. They did great, but even with a 5ft skimmer, the extra nutrients were too much for my tank, so I had to catch them (can you say TEDIOUS!!!) and give them to my friend with a FOWLR tank. The algae is still subsiding. Anyways, your filtration sounds fine.

 

[Kinetic]

I was hoping for an assortment of tankmates, like 6 tangs and a volitan lionfish...















just kidding.

I was going to put in the following for sure:
Bellus Angel (female)
Barlett Anthia
Sunburst Anthia
2 Ocellaris Clownfish (the ones I have now in my 32g. these guys are very docile towards any other tankmates they have, including 2 gobies and a flame angel).
Chalk Bass
Muellri Butterflyfish

My bellus will need a lot of food, so will the anthias. I doubt I'll keepa sunburst if I have a trio of barletts. It's looking like a hefty bioload. I might not get a chalk bass, those guys are too secretive, but it's exciting if you see it come out no?

If I keep 3 barletts, which of the fish in my list can I keep?

I plan on feeding 3 times a day, once before work, once after work, and once before bed.