Looking for some easy to care for Anthias

[Grendel0501]

I'd like afew Anthias, but all the types I read about need to be fed twice a day, which is alittle much for me.

I really like the Lyretails and the Purple Queen... :sad1:

Are there any Anthias that will be ok with being feed four or five days a week?
And do I HAVE to get a group or will one be ok solo?

 

[hybrid]

what do you mean by four or five days a week the lyretails are pretty easy

 

[aquaph8]

Lyretails are probably the easiest but I would still feed them At least once or twice a day. purple Queen are probably one of the toughest and need to be fed many times a day due to the small size of food they consume. They will be fine by themselves but look really cool as a Group with a male and at least two females.

 

[Grendel0501]

My worry is I'll get 2-3 of the Lyretails and they will slowly get skinny with my feeding schedule, then I'll start overfeeding the rest of the fish to keep the lyretails happy...

I might give them a try or just start looking for something else to fill my new tank with.

 

[MentalNote]

I have 2 lyretail and 3 dispar anthias. They have all learned to eat pellets and are fed multiple times a day with an autofeeder.

The pellets drop above my vortech and the anthias quickly attack them as they shoot through the water column. The lyretail will also eat pellets off the water surface, the dispar will not.

 

[eskymick]

Healthy lyre tails housed in a well maintained reef (params/water quality) are about as easy to keep as freshwater guppies.

 

[rssjsb]

Why can't you feed every day? Is this an office tank? If so, as MentalNote says, once you get your fish eating pellets it's easy enough to set up an autofeeder.

 

[DragonWarriorPo]

No anthias will lat long in your system unless fed more than once a day. I think it has something to do with small stomachs, so they need multiple feedings or they become malnourished very fast

 

[Squidmotron]

I feed twice a day, but sometimes once. I've skipped feedings before when out of town. The longest I've gone was 4 days.

Never had an issue with lyretail anthias, which I've had for a few years. They grow, they're healthy and active, they don't seem to get stressed on a perfectly ordinary reef food schedule.

I assume twice a day is ordinary, so that wouldn't be too much work for you. If you miss here and there, they seem to be fine.

 

[trinidiver]

Why can't you feed every day? Is this an office tank? If so, as MentalNote says, once you get your fish eating pellets it's easy enough to set up an autofeeder.

was going to ask the same question.

 

[o2manyfish]

Eheim makes a little autofeeder which retails for $30. Reliable and effective for little investment.

I ran that for 6+ months and then upgraded to a super-feed to hook up to my Apex to control the timings more accurately.

I think that having a multiple feeding schedule is a key to success with these

Dave B

 

[Grendel0501]

was going to ask the same question.

No, its a home tank. I just know myself, and I'm lazy.

I looked around on the net for a feeder, but most of them are battery powered.
I was hoping to find something I could wire up to my Apex and turn on when I am out and remember I didn't feed that day.
Even so I'd still forget and occasionally skip a day.

 

[inigomontoya]

If you want anthias invest in that Eheim, no need to hook to your apex. Just set the time, times you want fed (up to 4 per day) and then forget it. I feed twice a day, early morning early afternoon with autofeeder and then feed frozen when I get home. It also makes vacations possible.

 

[falconut]

I've kept Lyretails with once a day feedings. Occasionally I miss a day, but not often. They are definitely one of the easier Anthias.

 

[rssjsb]

No, its a home tank. I just know myself, and I'm lazy.

I looked around on the net for a feeder, but most of them are battery powered.
I was hoping to find something I could wire up to my Apex and turn on when I am out and remember I didn't feed that day.
Even so I'd still forget and occasionally skip a day.

I know what you mean. I'm coming to the realization that I'm just not attentive enough to maintain difficult corals. I've been really happy with my eheim autofeeder. It's battery powered, but is very reliable and the batteries last a good long time. I work weird hours sometimes so I like knowing that they're getting fed even when I have to go in early or work late.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Most anthias need pristine water in addition to frequent feedings. (Lyretails areone of the few that don't require several daily feedings). If you're on the lazy side; anthias are not a good choice; IMO & IME.