I want a Fathead

[Whiterabbitrage]

Has anyone kept Fathead Anthias successfully? And by successfully, I mean keeping it alive for several years. I've read that it is reasonably hardy for an Anthias, but also that it will sometimes stop eating for no apparent reason. Someone on RC actually said that Fatheads are known to be swimming, eating and fine one day and dead the next. If you have any advice or experience please chime in.

 

[mark54321]

I have one for about 3 years now, it is doing great. I think the key is to have peaceful tankmates and a little lower temperature then typical reef tank. Those are deepwater anthias, where they live there is no bright light and no 80 degree temp. I keep my tank at 76 F. It is housed with other anthias like sunset and aurulentus.

[/url]sunburst anthia2 by mark_mikina, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Wow, he's gorgeous. Thank you for your input. Sounds sensible. I keep my tank at 77' already, so that's not a problem, and I am focusing on peaceful tank inhabitants, so that's why I wanted a fathead. But maybe the bright light would stress him out? I'm going with LEDs and going to keep it at medium PAR for LPS. Wonder if that would be too bright?

What does yours eat? Did you order him online?

 

[mark54321]

Bright light might be a problem if there is not enough rock with caves and overhangs, but you should be fine with medium light like you are planning. I bought mine from my LFS, it eats anything frozen i put in tank. My light is dim, the whole set up is made for deepwater anthias, so he feels comfortable. I have seen those on DD not long ago.

 

[MIKE NY]

I had a pair for a few years.....when one went the other soon followed. They stayed close to the rockwork and together most of the time. They ate most frozen and pellet foods that floated by..

 

[Myles]

I had one for about 5 years-very peaceful tank.
Myles

 

[Reefnub]

0I don't think bright lights are a problem for them, but I do have a lot of crevices where mines would just return to whenever it wants to.
However, mine is mostly out and about under 250w mh and t5 blazing. They're definitely not as sensitive as ventralis or other real deepwater anthias.

 

[pktech]

There was one on DD tonight for $100 - anyone snag it?