Dispar/Lyretail/Bartlett's

[ROBONE20]

Anyone had luck raising a trio of any of these anthias in a 75 gallon for a long period of time (Or at least until I upgrade)? I want to get a trio or maybe even 5 if it's possible. I know Lyretails get big, so probably 5 wouldn't work in my size tank, but can I do 5 Dispars or Bartlett's? Also can anyone give me some feedback on the care of each of these species? Which species are easier to keep alive and happy? Thanks! Note: Other tankmates include a pair of False Perculas, 2.5" Purple Tang, 3" Mystery Wrasse, and 3.5" Majestic - all fat and happy for now. Upgrade already planned and coming in 2 years (180 or 240 gal).

 

[coralfish]

I've had 7 lyretails in a 220 for almost a year.....started out with 10 (6 males/4 females)..lost 3 (dead for some reason), one male changed to female, another male looks to be changing....doing great...and they eat everything

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I had a male and three females in my 75 for a few years. Then I kept a group in my 90 for several years, the numbers varied but I always had between 4-6 in the 90.

 

[TOM BLEVINS]

anthias

anthias

I have a colony of the Bartlett Anthias, 2 males & 6 females & 5 lyretail Anthias which looks like 1 male & 4 females in my 144 half circle & doing great.

 

[ROBONE20]

Thanks for your responses guys!
Coralfish - Do you think having that ratio of more males ended up stressing the 3 that passed? Or were they just part of a bad batch? That's great you've kept them for a year now. What's your feeding regimine?

LobsterofJustice - Did you originally start out with 4 in your 75 gallon? Or did you have more than that?

Did all of you guys QT them prior to putting them in your DT, or did you drop them in immediately? If you quarantined, what size was your QT?

TomBlevins - Which of your colonies do you like better, Bartlett's or Lyretails? Did you start out with all females and watch some of them change or did you go out and purchase males and females separately?

 

[sanchoy]

one male changed to female, another male looks to be changing.

ummm.. I think a male can't change into a female.. once they change from female to male.. its not reversible.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

In my 75 a bought a pair and the female died. Had the male alone for about a year, then added three females.

 

[alex gonzales]

What kind's of food were you folk's feeding them?

 

[curlykid]

mine loves any kind of shrimp- hates bloodworms, and mollusks.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Mine eat anything - started on any frozen, eventually took any pellet or flakes either.

 

[ROBONE20]

In my 75 a bought a pair and the female died. Had the male alone for about a year, then added three females.

What other tankmates did you have in your 75?

 

[ROBONE20]

Mine eat anything - started on any frozen, eventually took any pellet or flakes either.

There are some Dispars at my LFS that look amazing...great color. Unlike what I've seen in most photos on google. Very tempted, but they aren't even eating yet at the LFS. They've tried Mysis and Brine, but no luck yet. They've only been in there for 4 days. What frozen have you tried?

 

[ROBONE20]

ummm.. I think a male can't change into a female.. once they change from female to male.. its not reversible.

I've heard that statement too.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Frozen cyclopeeze is good to get them started.

Off the top of my head I also had a solar wrasse, majestic angel, lemonpeel tang, scribbled rabbit, two clowns and a mandarin in the 75. When I moved to the 90 I changed fish around - tankmates then were 3 zebra barred dartfish, school of chromis, sailfin tang, two clowns, a hogfish, hawkfish... pretty much the only constant in my tank over the past 5 years was the anthias school and the pair of clowns...