Long term success with a harem of bartlett anthias?

[MIKE NY]

I kept a trio for many years..all started as female with all changing one as a male and the other two stayed sub-males...constantly fighting .. ending up with just the super male..
male..


sub-male..

 

[lushuk]

Sometimes has past are any posters still active, how did you get on with your Bartletts?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

24+ years and still in the game

24+ years and still in the game

In my experience

Most Anthias in general do not live as long as many other species of marine fish.
I haven't researched this but I suspect the same might be true in nature.
Most of the Anthias species I've kept "only" last 3 to 4 years, max.
Compared to many other types of marines, that's not a long time

 

[WLachnit]

Just a few years for me as well. I decided to add Bartletts one more time to my mixed reef. And, of the 6 or 7 I added six months ago, I have five left and all but one turned into super males. So, I would say never really was a harem.

On the other hand, I decided to try my luck with Ignitus, and I actually have a harem, 3 females and 1 male. However, I did start off with about 10 or so prior to quarantine, etc.

 

[ca1ore]

All females still. Males are quite distinctive with pink heads. Very 'chippy' fish though, even females. I have had a trio for over a year - now two males and a female, but out all the time. Males are always being chased by my bimacs so no chance to bully the lone female.

Had my trio until late last year (so more than 3 years), when the sub male developed some kind of intestinal blockage, lost weight and died. Still have the other two. Male is a loner and the female hangs out with the female bimacs.