Lyretail Anthias question

[NexDog]

I have 5 Lyretails in QT currently and will be adding to my 340g in a few weeks. I want to add at least 3 more so will the existing school readily accept the new ones? The 5 are all female at the moment.

 

[bigdee65]

I think it would be better to add the ones you have now to the tank and then QT the others and add to display at a later time. The reason being if they don't get along in the QT you might have some problems. In the 340 the "outcasts" might create their own little group and survive just fine.

 

[Amphiprion]

It is hard to say. P. squamipinnis is definitely one of the more aggressive anthiine species, so you may have some squabbles. If you buy all females, you may not have too many problems (especially since they are going in a 300+ gallon tank, which helps). Just remember that they will always establish a pecking order, so expect some aggression regardless.

 

[NexDog]

bigdee65, I would definitely put the current 5 in the 340g first as they are in hypo at the moment and I wouldn't put them through two cycles.

I haven't seen any agression between the 5 Lyretails at the moment but I know that doesn't mean anything. If it's just a question of some squabbles whilst the pecking order was established then I'm sure it would work out. When I put my flame angel in my coral beauty chased him about for the rest of the night but by morning they were fine. If the same thing happened between the Lyretails then that would be great.

 

[bigdee65]

no matter what you do there is going to be some aggression between these little guys. I added 6 to my tank and there is one that gets picked on by my male quite often. The tank is big enough for her to chill alone but its kinda sad to see.

 

[willyreef]

I'm thinking of getting just a male to start and then latter add two females. Will this work or do i need more females?

Willyreef

 

[ca1ore]

I have a school of 8 females and 1 male that were introduced at different times. Over the two years that they have been in the tank, I only lost one female.

REgular feeding helps to ease bickering; as does a strong current/surge in the tank.

 

[Julio]

i too have 9 females and 1 male, i added all females and let them decide.