Fathead Sunburst Anthias opinions

[Neogenocide]

Hey everyone,

I recently purchased a Fathead Sunburst Anthias which has been doing absolutely great, and I'm thinking of adding more, but haven't found much data on how they do in groups. I'm thinking of adding 2 or 3 more, to have a small group of them as my wife and I really like the colors on them. So, is it worth the risk, or will they get aggressive enough that they will start killing each other off when the grow larger. My stock list is below, and I've contemplated removing the Lyretail Anthias and Bellus Angel as they keep killing off their female counterparts.

Thoughts?



A little info on my setup.

2.5 year old 180g mixed reef tank, approx 300g of water total.

Tank mates:

Blue Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Blue Jaw trigger
Starry Blenny
Bellus Angel
pair of Picasso Clowns
a single Maldives Lyretail Anthias

 

[jaa1456]

You should pair up the lyre tails, not sure if you have a male or female, but the sunburst do best alone.

 

[Neogenocide]

I currently have the male lyretail left, as I believe he bullied his 2 females to death. So I'm not real keen on giving him more women to beat up.

Thanks for the input

 

[jaa1456]

That's odd, I had a trio in my 65 and they were in there for 2 years living in perfect harmony. Lost them when my tank cracked

 

[Neogenocide]

I think they made it for about 4 months....then all of a sudden both females came up missing, never found a trace of them.

 

[MIKE NY]

I have both a trio of Lyretails as well as a pair of Sunbursts. The male Lyretail is very aggressive towards the females along with constantly harassing them with his spawning dance. They actually spawn for me a few times a week.. I find by having mutlible females it takes some of that attention away from just the one female. The Sunbursts, as mentioned, do better alone because they aren't a shoaling fish like most anthias and tend to stay by themselves near or in the rockwork. I did find some information, from reading/talking to people and determined that if they aren't a male/female combo they will fight and I find it very difficult to distinguish male from female. I took a chance when I purchased the second. It was alot smaller, more colorfull and had longer flowing fins so I though perhaps this was a male. They have been together for months now without any problems sometimes sharing the same caves, but for the most part ignoring each other....HTHs

 

[Curious George]

I have limited experience here, but I am a huge fan of the Sunburst Anthias. It really flies under the radar in the hobby and is hard to believe that it's an Anthias. I had one for a year before moving off to college. My dad wanted to kill me when he found out how much I spent on one fish.

When properly lit, it is very striking. Mine hung out under a ledge. That was his spot and he didn't do much more than drift around slowly in the current. I'm not sure if I would try and go with three or not. He (or she) really seemed like he just wanted to be alone and was completely happy under his ledge.

 

[nonimmigrant]

?..but the sunburst do best alone.

Not to be disrespectful, but I entirely disagree here. I've had a school of 5 Fatheads for about four years now and they are great. There is one male and they show no aggression to the other fish in the tank, nor to each other other than the occasional male chase female at dusk routine.

 

[MIKE NY]

non immigrant....am I correct in my assumption that the males are more brightly colored with more pink and longer fins... which would explain why my two get along..TIA

 

[jaa1456]

Than you are lucky, I have tried having 3 or more about 3 times and always had fighting, even in my 265. I spoke to several others that have them and they all had problems trying to keep them in groups. I have never tried a pair but I assume a bonded pair would be the way to go if such a thing exists out there.

 

[package]

I had fighting with 2 or 3, more than that allows the beating to get spread so that it is not such a big deal. My Sunburst were only aggressive toward each other, had to remove my flame angel.

 

[nonimmigrant]

non immigrant....am I correct in my assumption that the males are more brightly colored with more pink and longer fins... which would explain why my two get along..TIA

Males actually have more orange and their heads develop a much steeper slope, if you will, in shape. Some what hard to determine individually but easy when together. Most of the ones under 2" are still female (much pinker in color). I actually have another three coming in in a few weeks to add to the tank. LOL.