Mixing different species of anthias

[fishguy2501]

Hey everyone! I am doing some more research on the fish i want to choose for the reef tank i will be setting up. I am wanting to do a few different species of anthias in the tank with a pair or trio of each (1male to every 2 females). I have read a couple of forums about the topic but wanted to get some more input. I read that it is a must to have alot of caves and hiding spots to break up territories and give the fish cover, so i will have a lot of rock in there.

These are the species i was looking at keeping, which ones do you think would go best together?

Pseudanthias smithvanizi
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis
Pseudanthias leucozonus
Pseudanthias ventralis
Pseudanthias bimaculatus
pseudanthias fasciatus
Pseudanthias rubrizonatus
Pseudanthias parvirostris
pseudanthias pleurotaenia

And lastly i would want to choose one of these 3, 1*Pseudanthias aurulentus or 2*Pseudanthias flavoguttatus, or 3*Pseudanthias lori... #1, the aurulentus being my favorite.

Would appreciate any input!

 

[fishguy2501]

Doing some more research here is what i found.

These are the smaller species that should go ok together.
Pseudanthias smithvanizi -trio
Pseudanthias hawaiiensis - trio
Pseudanthias ventralis -trio(i really only like the males but females are also nice)
Pseudanthias aurulentus- trio (one of my favorite)
Pseudanthias parvirostris-trio (not a must to have)

For the larger species i was wondering if you all think i would be ok mixing these in with the species listed above?

Pseudanthias leucozonus-trio
Pseudanthias bimaculatus -pair or trio (like the male the most so want at least a male)
Pseudanthias rubrizonatus - single male or a pair
pseudanthias fasciatus -trio (love these, easily a favorite)

So do you all think i would be ok mixing all of those together or should i choose between the larger ones or the smaller ones?

 

[suta4242]

How big is the tank?

I've mixed anthias in the past, primarily smaller species. My approach has been to keep placid species together. Or you could combine bold / aggressive species together.

IME, coral sea P. Aurulentus males can be bossy...mine kept his females in line and tried the same with local ventralis. Dropping the temperature didn't make him any less domineering.

OTOH Flavoguttatus, aurulentus and smithvinici got on well. Btw, harem size is really important as a bossy male can spread his aggression. For most species, I've found 1m and 4-5 F to be the magic number.

If you're after a high success rate, I'd try the above species together but ventralis seperately. Haven't kept the other species so can't comment.

Good luck!
:wave:

 

[fishguy2501]

How big is the tank?

I've mixed anthias in the past, primarily smaller species. My approach has been to keep placid species together. Or you could combine bold / aggressive species together.

IME, coral sea P. Aurulentus males can be bossy...mine kept his females in line and tried the same with local ventralis. Dropping the temperature didn't make him any less domineering.

OTOH Flavoguttatus, aurulentus and smithvinici got on well. Btw, harem size is really important as a bossy male can spread his aggression. For most species, I've found 1m and 4-5 F to be the magic number.

If you're after a high success rate, I'd try the above species together but ventralis seperately. Haven't kept the other species so can't comment.

Good luck!
:wave:

Thanks for the response! I plan on having a tank 200-300g, leaning towards the 300g side but cant find one. I wanted to mix both groups the smaller and the larger, would have single males of most of the larger, but i guess ill have to just pick one group.

 

[ca1ore]

I have found that most of the smaller species do just fine together, but don't generally compete well in a community tank with larger species.

 

[janes_mw]

Thanks for the response! I plan on having a tank 200-300g, leaning towards the 300g side but cant find one. I wanted to mix both groups the smaller and the larger, would have single males of most of the larger, but i guess ill have to just pick one group.

I have 300G ready to go. You could be running in a couple days .