long term success with a harem of anthias

[eaglesrx]

Just wanted to see what everyone's experiences in the club are with keeping a harem of anthias for the long term, i.e. keeping a good ratio of females to male ratio. I'm actually interested in bartlett's and I'm following a thread in the Reef Fishes forum. However, I just wanted to see CT reefer's strategies for keeping a harem of any type of anthia.

Details on strategies includes:
1. female/male ratio
2. tank gallon size
3. tankmates

Also, list how how long you've had your group of anthias and if they've all turned male.

See you at the meeting!

 

[argi]

1. Bought all females (started with 11 or 12 now have 8)

2. 225

3. Orchid dottybacks (4 I think), sailfin tang, foxface, pyramid butterfly, pair bangaii cardinals and sand sifting goby.

I purchased them probably 4-5 months ago (maybe longer, my memory is bad, LOL). One is turning into a male keeping the others in check.

They are lyretail anthias.

HTH,

 

[eaglesrx]

Thanks argi for the info. Any jumpers? Or did the females just die from starvation due to aggression from the other anthias? Was it the male male suppressing or the other females, or both?

 

[argi]

No jumpers (knock on wood). I lost one or two in the first 1-3 weeks, so I think they were just weaker from shipping. The other couple I think were the lowest gals on the todem pole and couldn't keep up with the others. I think everyone was picking on them.

 

[eaglesrx]

Hmm, makes me want to plan to get lyretails rather than bartlett's. I'll have to do some more research on them.

Any pointers on feeding?

Thanks for your help. Are you going to the meeting?
phu

 

[argi]

At first they only would eat mysis shrimp, now they eat everything (frozen, flake, pellets). Give them a nice meaty diet to start with then start adding the other foods. Feed often, I try to feed small amounts at least 3-4 times per day.

I am not sure if I can make the meeting or not. I want to go, just don't know if I will have time.

Keith

 

[Mickey]

I started about 2 years ago with 7 Bartlett's, one male and the others supposedly females. 8 weeks in quarantine everything seemed fine. One month later while I was away on vacation mysteriously lost 2 so down to five. All turned male. Seemed to be fine and stable, a little aggression just after the lights went out but not too bad. One year later or so, another disappearance.

Last November I got another 9, all female, and moved them into my display just before Christmas. A little jockeying for position but everything stabilized. A few hid most of the time but if you counted real fast during feeding you could count all 13. All 9 new ones stayed female. Then about a month ago, I found two bodies and they were the original males. And all I can count now are 7 so there are some others gone MIA. I still have more than one male but things are stabilized again. I'm very sad at losing some.

If there is a secret I think it is getting them in different sizes, and therefore probably at different times.

After the first week or so, mine ate everything I put in the tank.

Mickey

 

[amcarrig]

How often did you all have to feed your anthias and how many of you had them eat flake?

 

[Mickey]

Mine eat flake, pellet and frozen. I have an automatic feeder giving small portions twice a day and then I feed when I get home at night.

Mickey

 

[amcarrig]

Hey stranger Do most bartletts eat flakes or did you just luck out?

PS. Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?

 

[JonTarutis]

IMO either barlett's or squammi's are the best bets for long term success... barlett's tend to be the "pitbulls" of the anthias... you know "scrappers" meanwhile the squammi's are a little more docile amongst their own kind. One of my present harems consists or 7 barlett's... one "supermale", one semi-male (dominates females but is dominated by the super) and five females. All were small juveniles (females) 18 months ago. Tank is a 180 (6x2x2) with a pair of perc's, pair of royal grammas, 6 line wrasse, male bellus angel and a hippo tang. Everything in tank eats Hikari mysis, Formula 2 flake, New life spectrum Thera-A pellets and nori.
Come find me at the meeting and I'll chat your ear off about anthias!!!
Jon