lyretail anthias care??

[sabazerehi]

hi everyone!

i've always wanted anthias in my tank but have been afraid to try them out without being fully prepared. i've been doing a lot of reading and it's making me a little more confident but i'd like to hear more about other people's experience with lyretail anthais specifically and any tips for success.

some info on my tank:
i have a 60g w/ 15g sump/fuge
weekly 10g water changes
6x39w t5s (on 5 hours a day)
swc 160 cone skimmer

now i've read some places saying a 60g is big enough, but i'm not so sure.
i have 4 other small fish, pair of b & w clowns, melanurus wrasse, and a mandarin.

my biggest issue is the constant feedings, however, i have an established 30g with nothing in it that i'm planning on keeping them in until i'm sure they're healthy enough to be kept in m y 60g.
what's the best feeding schedule for them? and when healthy enough, is it possible to cut down the feedings to like once or twice a day? also, how bad is it if i miss feeding a day here or there, that's what i'm most worried about and i'm thinking about getting an automatic feeder if i can get them to eat pellets.

thanks for any help or advice!!

 

[bryan007]

A 60 gallon is to small for them as they are an open water schooling fish need a lot of room to do their best. I really would stay away from Anthias until you can acquire a larger tank at least 6 foot long. The Lyretail are good candidates for an appropriate sized tank. Mine do not eat pellets or flake only frozen seafood and I feed them once in the morning and in the late afternoon. Some of the others such as the Tukas do not even attempt as they must be feed more often and ususally will only eat frozen and/or live foods. Difficult fish to keep in an aquarium.

 

[SDguy]

My experiences:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-07/fish/index.php

 

[strike2867]

I have Dispars eating pellets in a 90. 3 Females. Seem fine to me. They also did well during shipping.

 

[sabazerehi]

ya i read that reefkeeping article and that's what starting building up my confidence a little, great article btw! but ya i am a little worried my tank is too small. anyone keeping a trio in something around a 60g?

 

[prop-frags]

A 60g is really too small for this fish...

We have 7 Lyretails... two males and 5 females. They will eat anything we put in the tank (live, frozen, pellets, flakes). We feed 2 to 3 times a day (small feedings) which keeps them and all of their tank-mates happy.

 

[Alex T.]

I've been keeping two a little over a year in my 72" 150. Mine don't eat pellet at all. Only recently did they start eating nori.

They do need a bigger tank as already stated. WWith 4 Vortech MP40's going, they sit in the current all day with my Achilles Tang. I know people say to feed them often, but mine have been doing fine on a once per day feeding with no loss in coloration or health. They also annihilate Cyclopeez like it's crack!

 

[davocean]

Not only would I be concerned w/ tank size, but also all your fish will be pod competition, mandy may suffer.

 

[goochesfish]

I have 4 lyretails in a 150g 5ft tank. 3 females, 1 male and I only feed once a day. They eat everything including nori and pellets