Pseudanthias pleurotaenia

[chipchip]

The square anthias is my favorite anthias. I never kept anthias yet and wonder if the square back is "easy" to keep? Does he accept all foods like pellets and flakes? Ive also heard that this anthias can be kept alone. Is it possible to have just a single male?

One of the hardier anthias?

 

[degibson84]

Some sites do not offer arrive alive on this fish so I wouldn't consider it hardy

 

[ca1ore]

I have kept squares on a number of occasions. Frankly, I think a single male is the best way to do it. Trouble though is I could never get any of mine to eat pellets or flake - it was krill, brine and Mysis only.

 

[chipchip]

Ok.. thanks for the infos.. And how long did you keep them? Why did you lose them? I do not know if I should order a single male and try it. But do they need to be fed like 3 times a day or more? I only feed 2 times a day.

 

[degibson84]

check this article out on feeding

http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=268

 

[ca1ore]

Ok.. thanks for the infos.. And how long did you keep them? Why did you lose them? I do not know if I should order a single male and try it. But do they need to be fed like 3 times a day or more? I only feed 2 times a day.

Well. I've been keeping reef tanks since about 1988, so lots of time to 'go through' fish . If memory serves, I have had squares four or five times. First one died fairly quickly, second one carpet surfed after a few months, and the other two or three I had for a few years each time with demise being old age (?). My personal experience is that feeding only twice a day is pushing it, and the fish may well slowly lose weight. Three was my sweet spot.

 

[chipchip]

Ok.. thats a long time So I could feed 3 times a day thats no problem. But when I am at work I probably need an auto-feeder.. There is a new food on the market here in europe. It is plankton and I think that could be interesting for anthias. A short video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRhJKxWk-KU

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have had pink squares a number of times, each lived 2-3 yrs and losses were only due to power outage and equipment failure.
They dont ship well so that may be why many places dont offer gaurantees.
I have found them to be very hardy and accepting of pellets relatively quickly. I used an auto feeder during the day with new life spectrum ther a pelleys and would feed frozen mysis, spirulina brine and reef plankton when i would come home in the evening.
My pink square would always be waiting at the feeding station at feeding times.
I found it helpful to feed the frozen food at the feeding station so that any fish would associate anything that hit the water there as food.