Mixing Anthias

[tkeracer619]

I while back I had asked about using chromis fish to draw out the shy fish. It was reccomended to use anthias because the chromis don't live that long adn sometimes attack each other.

Im planning on ordering some clowns and an enomone from liveaquaria. I figured it would be time to order the anthias also.

I notice that it says most males are ok if kept by themselves.

What if I got a mix of males of different types, get 3 females of each type for two if the types of anthias. so say about 2 of one type (1m 1f), 2 of another (1m 1f), and 3 other mixed males for a total 7 anthias.

If I keep the females with the males should I have 2-3 females to that one male or is 1 to 1 an ok ratio.

My goal in the tank is to have a lot of different fish. Ie cousins but no brothers from another mother.

Right now I have a Yellow tang, Fridmani Psuedochromis, 3 stripe damsel, pygmy angel, blue cleaner wrasse,and lawnmnower blenny.

 

[tkeracer619]

bump?

 

[tkeracer619]

and nobody responded to my tang question. Ill just see if he gets worse and dies

 

[Angel*Fish]

Re: Mixing Anthias

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6880044#post6880044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
My goal in the tank is to have a lot of different fish. Ie cousins but no brothers from another mother.

I'm not sure I get what you mean ..

But mixing anthias is not something a lot of people are experts on.

I can tell you what I have in my tank -
1 Male bicolor - 3.5 inches
2 Female purple tukas - 2.5 inches & 2 inch
3 Dispars - 2.0 inch, 1.5 inch & 1.25 inch
1 3.5 inch sunburst anthias

Everyone gets along in the established pecking order so far - it helps that the sizes are different & that they are all from the subgenus Mirolabrichthys which are according to Scott Michael less aggressive generally speaking as a group (Except for the sunburst who really keeps out of any issues & does his own thing)

I highly recommend his book Reef Fishes Vol. 1 which covers anthias, seahorses, eels, frogfish & a bunch more in great detail.

Especially for someone like you who wants to mix a lot of fish, this and his other books will be very valuable

 

[dgasmd]

If you are going to mix anthias, which is OK, just get them all females. A male will develop of each type. It will be at their own pace and by their choosing in the herarchical scale, so they should be fine. The easiest to keep long term are in no particular order:

Barlets
hutchis
squaminpinis
bicolor (can get too aggressive towards each other)