Hello all. I'm not sure what the key to keeping anthias alive. I have many times tried Several types over time but never have much succes. I always feed good food several time daily, but they always die off one by one for no reasons it seems. I always qt them with pristine water but never have long term success. What's the deal?
Can't keep anthias alive what's the key
- Thread starter alex656
- Start date
MCCOOL
Active member
Knowing what species you've attempted, would be helpful, as some are much easier to care for, than others.
A long qt without any other fish is necessary IME, it allows them time to start eating and build up fat reserves without competition (This is also a good time to treat them with prazipro).
If they are having problems feeding, start with newly hatched brine shrimp, fish eggs, cyclopeeze, etc. Until you can wean them onto larger foods such as minced mysis, eventually most species will consume whole mysis sized foods, but it can take quite a while (a good reason for a long qt without aggressive feeders).
They are great jumpers, so make sure your tank is covered, also make sure you are buying all females, and not numerous males.
I've started all mine off with 5-7 feedings per day to build up fat reserves, then slowly moved them down to 3-4 feeding per day, while keeping a close eye on their weight.
A long qt without any other fish is necessary IME, it allows them time to start eating and build up fat reserves without competition (This is also a good time to treat them with prazipro).
If they are having problems feeding, start with newly hatched brine shrimp, fish eggs, cyclopeeze, etc. Until you can wean them onto larger foods such as minced mysis, eventually most species will consume whole mysis sized foods, but it can take quite a while (a good reason for a long qt without aggressive feeders).
They are great jumpers, so make sure your tank is covered, also make sure you are buying all females, and not numerous males.
I've started all mine off with 5-7 feedings per day to build up fat reserves, then slowly moved them down to 3-4 feeding per day, while keeping a close eye on their weight.
I have tried bartletts, square back, purple queen, Lyretail also. It's not that I can't keep them alive at all it's just over time. For instance I recently had seven female lyretail in qt. They did great the first week, eating like crazy. After the first week we had one die, and pretty much one a week since. Down to 4. They are the only thing dying. Kept in low light, great water and fed flake, brine and mysis each day.
What frequency of feeding? All eating?
coralfish
Premium Member
I've had some lyretails in my tank for 2 years. They get fed when they get fed and they are doing very well. They eat flake food and get frozen from time to time. Feeding is not on any particular schedule, as I am home a different times each day and gone completely on some weekends.
Anthias
Anthias
None of the fish were for my own tank, thru have been for clients tanks we maintain. Not all the fish have come from the same source and have not noticed any aggresion towards one another. This was more a broad question, it just seems like the same mo. Get them in, house them for a bit, doing great eating and either weeks or months later one by they die for no reason. Just seems odd. I can't ever seem to have luck with these fish.
Anthias
None of the fish were for my own tank, thru have been for clients tanks we maintain. Not all the fish have come from the same source and have not noticed any aggresion towards one another. This was more a broad question, it just seems like the same mo. Get them in, house them for a bit, doing great eating and either weeks or months later one by they die for no reason. Just seems odd. I can't ever seem to have luck with these fish.
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Have you checked/treated for flukes?
