feeding suburst anthias?

[K' Family Reef]

this might seem like a dumb question

we have had a sunburst anthias for several mos now and its doing fine - eating well etc

i read that they need to be fed a couple times a day but i was trying to learn why this is necessary - and have also read where others are only feeding them once also.

the lites come on at noon - they might get fed around 7pm sometimes 8 - will feed then wait then feed again 1/2 hour or hour later - then often feed again after that before lites out... sometimes only fed once day too

would this constitute the 2x feeding/day ? and is there a better/recom method of feeding?


i am asking this because
we are thinking about getting more anthias down the road (assuming there will be compatibliity etc)

thanks and regards

 

[mbbuna]

they are planktivores so in the wild they would be constantly eating plankton from the water. there digestive system is set up to eat many small meals. there is a good thread that talks about the benefits of small frequent feedings http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1210666

if you do add more make sure you add the same species and if the one you have now is a male add only females

 

[K' Family Reef]

mbbuna
thanks for the link i will check it out!

we really like the anthias and wish to add more
but will need to research it further! and i am concerned about the feeding issue associated w/ them - being that we cannot feed them before we go to work (lites dont come on till noon) and we are not retired sitting at home all day either - iow if it requires too much then we are going to pass on keeping these fish and getting any more.

regards

 

[JeffersonReef]

add a refugium. this way, you can ensure that there is a constant source of food. Also, consider harvesting your own plankton.... which would include a wide array of things that would flurouish in ur fuge!

 

[K' Family Reef]

thought about harvesting my own phyto - or atleast trying it for awhile - already have a 50gal fuge on my system - right now the sunburst seems to take to eating the hikari mysis/emerald entree and glassworms that i am feeding the rest of the fish in the tank

 

[BangkokMatt]

Anthias can lose a lot of there fat storage during transit. Multiple feeding are very important at first to replenish the storage. Once done, they can maintain good health on one feeding a day.
Saying that, a feeding in the morning is a good thing for all of your fish. Why don't you set up an autofeeder.
Feeding several times in the evening is not advisable as the fish cannot process all of the food they eat. In one end and out the other, so to speak, with limited benefits for your fish and none for your system.
I feed mine before I go to work. The lights are not on but the fish eat the food no problem.

 

[K' Family Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10988856#post10988856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
Anthias can lose a lot of there fat storage during transit. Multiple feeding are very important at first to replenish the storage. Once done, they can maintain good health on one feeding a day.
Saying that, a feeding in the morning is a good thing for all of your fish. Why don't you set up an autofeeder.
Feeding several times in the evening is not advisable as the fish cannot process all of the food they eat. In one end and out the other, so to speak, with limited benefits for your fish and none for your system.
I feed mine before I go to work. The lights are not on but the fish eat the food no problem.

thanks for the reply BangkokMat!

some interesting thoughts to ponder - i havent tried feeding in the a.m w/ the lites off but perhaps i will try it to see how they do.

regards

ps i spent 18 mos mainly in korea (rok) - are you an american living in bangkok?

 

[BangkokMatt]

I'm from the UK

 

[K' Family Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10989097#post10989097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
I'm from the UK

so much for bangkok
lol

regards

 

[BangkokMatt]

I am from the UK, but live in Bangkok now.

 

[K' Family Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10989178#post10989178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
I am from the UK, but live in Bangkok now.

hey that that is way kewl!

quite a different world then the UK... i really enjoyed being in korea/asia... rode my bicycle all over and was beautiful!... what sort of LFS do you have over there or do you order online etc ?

thanks for the advice on feeding the anthias.

regards

 

[BangkokMatt]

The LFS are great. There are about 10 all in the same market area. Great fish - cheap. Good corals - not so cheap. I also order from Singapore. Here is a good thread about them. Not my thread but where I shop.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1095004&highlight=new+sps+singapore

 

[lilchris]

I turn my actinics on for an hr. in the AM. I feed during that time, then they go out until noon. I have 3 lyrentails and I did feed 3 times a day when I first got them. Now I feed them in the morning. I think I am going to add a feeding in the afternoon.

With the sunburst (my fav of the anthias) I'm not sure if you absolutely have to feed them more than once a day. I don't think they swim as much as the other species of anthias. Do he just like hover around his overhang or his lil territory? If they do swim alot then I would consider the multiple feedings.

 

[K' Family Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10989394#post10989394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lilchris
I turn my actinics on for an hr. in the AM. I feed during that time, then they go out until noon. I have 3 lyrentails and I did feed 3 times a day when I first got them. Now I feed them in the morning. I think I am going to add a feeding in the afternoon.

With the sunburst (my fav of the anthias) I'm not sure if you absolutely have to feed them more than once a day. I don't think they swim as much as the other species of anthias. Do he just like hover around his overhang or his lil territory? If they do swim alot then I would consider the multiple feedings.

no they dont swim like most the other anthias
it pretty much just hovers around its little area of the tank - somewhat shy but not too much... its not one of those fish that you never see either - the colors are amazing - which is why i was asking about the feedings i want to make sure i am feeding properly to be sure the fish keeps its color/healthy... i might try feeding in the a.m w/ the lites off first then if not perhaps do it as you are doing w/ the actinics coming on in the a.m for awhile

oh btw what do you feed your anthias?


BangkokMatt
i will have to check the links out you sent and enjoy your time in Bangkok (i'm jealous!)

regards

 

[K' Family Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10989251#post10989251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
The LFS are great. There are about 10 all in the same market area. Great fish - cheap. Good corals - not so cheap. I also order from Singapore. Here is a good thread about them. Not my thread but where I shop.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1095004&highlight=new+sps+singapore

the corals in these links are amazing!
did i read sps are illegal there?