My attempt at Purple Queen Anthias

[aquaph8]

So far they are eating frozen baby brine really well in QT. Their not really shy at all but refuse to eat any decent sized food. Planktivores through and through and very set in their ways. Anybody with any experience with them please share. Otherwise I will let you all know how my experience with them goes along the way. Wish me luck.:wavehand:

[/IMG]

 

[jjk_reef00]

Awesome Brett, those are by far my favorite anthias. Where did you get them? I hope they do well for you.

 

[aquaph8]

Thanks, they came from SEA.

 

[SDguy]

Be sure to read Matt's account of these. GL!

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-magazine/71849-boldly-colored-beauties-tuka-anthias.html

 

[aquaph8]

Thanks Peter, I read that article once already but since you posted it I read it again. Its a great article and it seems I take more from it every time I read it. I am up for the challenge and hopefully I can make them happy. Im very optomistic about them doing well in QT but pretty scared about them moving to the display tank any time soon. Ive gotta come up with some kind of feeder system.

 

[SDguy]

I've gotta come up with some kind of feeder system.

That's pretty much it. If they weren't hardy otherwise, wholesalers wouldn't have them constantly as one of their cheapest anthias.

 

[MIKE NY]

Brett glad to see they are doing well...I already placed mine in the display and still can't them to accept anything larger than cyclopeeze and Nutra Mar so I'm still feeding about 3-4 times a day... they seem to prefer dim lighting only really coming out to actively feed before and after the main lights are on..how about yours?....would also like to hear from anyone who is keeping them...

 

[aquaph8]

My QT is a 20 long. It just has a cheap Current duel T5 fixture. I haven't noticed them bothered by the light but its not really that bright.

 

[38bill]

I dont have any Purple Queens but all my planktivores love flake food that I crush up into very fine pieces. Just drop a small rock into a can and add a couple of scoops of flakes and give it a good shake. Even my larger wrasse go crazy for the tiny little pieces.

 

[29reef]

I would suggest trying to feed a mix of razor shaved PE mysis, frozen rotifers, and baby brine. As they get used to eating the mix your can introduce larger chunks of food in with it and normally after a few days they start to eat everything floating in the water colum. This is what I do for my anthias and have had good luck with a few species. I haven't ever tried with purples, but it's worth a try as they are all common foods.

 

[Lmart]

tukas

tukas

Try frozen prawn eggs, they go nuts over it.

 

[ryanrid]

a tip i use to acclimatize tuka to light in the qt before adding to the dt. I start in qt with 2 x t5, then move to 4 and 6 bulbs respectively with 2 week periods of each bulb combo.
i also run auto feeds during the day of live baby brine thru dosing pumps and have NLS for baby fish in an eheim feeder.

HTH
Ryan

good luck.

 

[MIKE NY]

right after I posted they only feed actively under dim lighting here they are today out under full lights ..

 

[aquaph8]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. Mike, they look really great. Glad to hear they're getting used to your lights. My 3 continue to eat really well on baby brine and Daphnia. I try to feed as many times a day as I can. I'm trying my best to keep them plump.

 

[Grassroots]

I have never tried it before but what about cyclopeeze?

 

[aquaph8]

a tip i use to acclimatize tuka to light in the qt before adding to the dt. I start in qt with 2 x t5, then move to 4 and 6 bulbs respectively with 2 week periods of each bulb combo.
i also run auto feeds during the day of live baby brine thru dosing pumps and have NLS for baby fish in an eheim feeder.

HTH
Ryan

good luck.

Ryan, do you have any pics of your feeding setup. I would be really interested to see it.

 

[aquaph8]

I have never tried it before but what about cyclopeeze?

So far they wont touch it but I bet they will eventually.

 

[klepto]

Try frozen prawn eggs, they go nuts over it.

1+ I know someone else that had good results with Nutramar Ova (prawn eggs). The particle size is just right for this species.

 

[aquaph8]

I gotta order some, where's a good place

 

[MIKE NY]

So far they wont touch it but I bet they will eventually.

thats funny because mine all they eat is cyclopeeze and Nutra Mar and haven't touched anything larger like baby brine etc...and I mix alot of different foods together hoping they will, but so far they ignore anything larger.....