Experiences with Pseudanthias ventralis hawaiiensis?

stunreefer

Reef Hugger
Wondering peoples first hand experience with Pseudanthias ventralis hawaiiensis, along with Pseudanthias ventralis...

I'm assuming the care of the hawaiiensis is similar to ventralis, but would like to know/hear about first hand experiences with these gorgeous fish.

Thanks!
 
the hawaiiensis I have never seen do well in a tank. I kept ventralis successfully (5months + before unfortunate marine velvet came in on a genicanthus bellus), but out of a batch of 5 healthy ones, 2 always parished. This 3/5 was very consistent given you can feed with prepared foods, get eating with live mysis, keep tank lights off for a few weeks, and have no other fish to start with.
 
Thanks for the replies guys!

I've heard that ratio from many people whom have attempted P. ventralis and I assume it would be similar for the hawaiiensis as well.

In my book this ratio cannot be justified...

Anyone else?
 
One of the collectors told me that he caught 11 once and 9 died before he got them back to the boat. I may not have the numbers right but most didn't make it. Also heard that the males do not do well, that is survive. If you can even find that fish you should only get females, they do a little better. I also would suggest a low light tank, cooler water and no other fish.
 
Thanks for the reply John! These guys would be going in a "deepwater" tank (low light, cool - ~75*F), but I most definitely will be keeping other fish. That's a horrific stat, making this an even easier decision.
 
a LFS here order in 5 ventralis, over a period of 1 month two did not make it...the other 3 eat will and looks great.
 
I was in Hawaii and we dove deep, the commercial collector I dove with collected 9, he had kept them successfully in the past, and he brought 3 to the Wiakiki Aquarium where they were fine last I heard, mine didn't survive the trip home. I posted pics with an earlier post on the trip and one on Hawaiian anthias by another member. The problem with them is they don't transport well, the collector kept them for a week in a 5 gal bucket with just an airstone, and they were fine, but the stress of moving them is what killed mine, I think they should be tried by hobbyists who are very experienced until we find the trick to keeping them, because it can be done, we just need to find out what triggers the stress that causes the failier. I think if a trick to transporting them is found more and more will be successful at keeping them long term. It is like leopard wrasse and moorish idols, they were considered impossible to keep not that long ago, but now there are lots of people are keeping them for years.
 
Back
Top