ReefArtist
In Memoriam
Yes I also love these fish. I did a lot of research before purchasing and felt they would work with my "MOSTLY" calm fish. You'll see why I say mostly in a minute.
I made caves and overhangs just for this type of fish so they made their way into a cave to call their own very quickly. I had the liberty in making my clay rock works for my fish. I made little areas within the rocks - a hole to get in and out and a nice protected area inside (condos for our modern fish
). The male at first would only come out for about an hour at a time and that would be about 4 times per day. The female was very shy and I must say a little small (I felt from the start I would have problems with her). She at first would only come out after I feed, stay out for about 1/2 hour and then go back into her cave. I feed her using a feeder by gently shooting it into her cave area. As the days went on she got brave and would come out longer and longer, not as long as the male but she was doing great.
Well my Cirrhilabrus lubbocki (Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse) decide he wanted to pick a fight with the male anthia one night. That was the last time I saw the female. When she didn't come out in the morning to feed I started putting food in her cave again. Nothing helped and that little fight was to much for her. You could tell she didn't like being with the others but she was getting accustom to it and I really think she would have made it had it not been for that one and only dispute. I had her for a few weeks before this happened and I still have the male. The male is doing wonderfully and is out with everyone all day long. I had figured he would go into his cave when my MH came on but he is out 100% of the time. I do only have 3-250w and it appears this light doesn't bother him at all. He is a picker eater then some of my other fish but they get live mysis, rotifers and brine shrimp (yes they are spoiled). He eats all of those fresh and frozen and will eat a little of flake (Formula Two and Cyclop-Eeze) but that is to only supplement his diet. I make my own food and freeze it so I know what they are getting and their likes and dislikes. I test them before adding it to my mixture - I don't want stuff laying around the bottom and going to waste. I have enough of that without adding more - LOL.
Yes Marcye these fish are not easy and unless you are willing to take the time and effort they are not fish to have. I failed on the female and that is really sad, I take every fish loss personally. Luckily I don't have many and that's a good thing, otherwise I don't think I could do it.
I made caves and overhangs just for this type of fish so they made their way into a cave to call their own very quickly. I had the liberty in making my clay rock works for my fish. I made little areas within the rocks - a hole to get in and out and a nice protected area inside (condos for our modern fish
). The male at first would only come out for about an hour at a time and that would be about 4 times per day. The female was very shy and I must say a little small (I felt from the start I would have problems with her). She at first would only come out after I feed, stay out for about 1/2 hour and then go back into her cave. I feed her using a feeder by gently shooting it into her cave area. As the days went on she got brave and would come out longer and longer, not as long as the male but she was doing great.Well my Cirrhilabrus lubbocki (Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse) decide he wanted to pick a fight with the male anthia one night. That was the last time I saw the female. When she didn't come out in the morning to feed I started putting food in her cave again. Nothing helped and that little fight was to much for her. You could tell she didn't like being with the others but she was getting accustom to it and I really think she would have made it had it not been for that one and only dispute. I had her for a few weeks before this happened and I still have the male. The male is doing wonderfully and is out with everyone all day long. I had figured he would go into his cave when my MH came on but he is out 100% of the time. I do only have 3-250w and it appears this light doesn't bother him at all. He is a picker eater then some of my other fish but they get live mysis, rotifers and brine shrimp (yes they are spoiled). He eats all of those fresh and frozen and will eat a little of flake (Formula Two and Cyclop-Eeze) but that is to only supplement his diet. I make my own food and freeze it so I know what they are getting and their likes and dislikes. I test them before adding it to my mixture - I don't want stuff laying around the bottom and going to waste. I have enough of that without adding more - LOL.
Yes Marcye these fish are not easy and unless you are willing to take the time and effort they are not fish to have. I failed on the female and that is really sad, I take every fish loss personally. Luckily I don't have many and that's a good thing, otherwise I don't think I could do it.
