Long term success with a harem of bartlett anthias?

[SDguy]

With respect to aggression against other species of fish, I think you will be fine with just about any of the hardy anthias if a CBB is the most timid thing you plan to keep with them.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Yeah but I want a harem of like 7 and it seems that the batletts are killing each other. At least thats what I getting here.

 

[CarlC]

If your looking for a species that is more tolerant of each other take a look at dispars. If you have the time to work with them in QT to get them feeding reguarly they seem to adapt well.

Carl

 

[King-Kong]

Carl; how do they do with OTHER fish, though. My supermale bartlett love to chase some of my smaller wrasses.

 

[bradleyj]

My Dispars get along great with every fish I have. No where near the aggression that the bartletts have.

 

[CarlC]

I am only keeping them with another anthias and a Wetmorella species of wrasse. Loris are concidered to be pretty shy and vulnerable. The dispar males took my two female lori's right into the school.

I'll soon be adding a trio of Pseudanthias flavicauda once out of QT.

Carl

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Thanks Carl. I'll take a look at them.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10295520#post10295520 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
I am only keeping them with another anthias and a Wetmorella species of wrasse. Loris are concidered to be pretty shy and vulnerable. The dispar males took my two female lori's right into the school.

I'll soon be adding a trio of Pseudanthias flavicauda once out of QT.

Carl

Were those the ones from phishy?

Update for my guys. I have two males and one female. The two males really HATE each other. I've never seen such aggression. Displaying, circling each other, all fins flared. Chasing so fast I think it's freaking out my other fish a bit. I'm trying to get at least one trapped and removed. Well, that was a short lived experiment

 

[CarlC]

Got them from the Den. It was the first pair offered. Amazing colors! They ate 10 minutes after being out of the bag.

Since adding them the dispar males have gone from mild mannered to severe bullies. The dispar and lori females are being constantly harrased.

Time to remove the dispar!!

Carl

 

[SDguy]

Crazy social dynamics I tell you!

I look forward to pics of the new guys in the photo library thread...

 

[SDguy]

Ugh! A LFS has the tiniest, most female looking barteltts I have ever seen. But holy smokes! $50 each. They are literally an inch. I passed.

 

[King-Kong]

Those were the sizes of the ones I introduced. TINY! They were let right into the group with the two males.

 

[SDguy]

Hmmm...maybe I'll try to haggle

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10328517#post10328517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
Those were the sizes of the ones I introduced. TINY! They were let right into the group with the two males.

I thought you introduced your two females to one male?

 

[King-Kong]

I believe I had two males at the time when I introduced them (who had come in as a trio, with 1 jumping, and all female), and then removed the secondary male (who wasnt quite as pretty as the other).

 

[SDguy]

Ah yes. My current "second male" has all the same markings as the other...just washed out/pale.

 

[SDguy]

Unbelievable! My "new" male actually has tail streamers, and a very long dorsal spine. Evidentally I've been feeding testosterone laced mysis

Here he is...so no longer a female

Less than a month from this:

 

[CarlC]

Man that was quick!

Carl

 

[SDguy]

Ugh...tell me about it! Stupid weird social structure <pouting>

 

[SDguy]

Seems the balance of power has shifted. The second male no longer hides, but patrols the left side of the tank. The original male patrols the right. It seems the male on whichever side the female is on gets more aggressive/bold. Fascinating dynamics, I have to say.