squareback with lyretails?

locito277

New member
I am ordering a harem of lyretails (7 females,1 male). My tank is a 220. My question is could i add a lone male squareback the same day to avoid fights? Second question how hardy are the squarebacks? Thanks for the help... OOPS I forgot my specs. Its 6 ft long by 2 ft wide and tall. I have a few different clowns, an indian opcean sailfin tang along with a 2 small damsels a Mandarin, and a flame angel. Question will the anthias mess with cleaner shrimps or mithrax crabs????
 
the squarebacks are a lot bigger than the lyretails. i have kept squarebacks with lyretails before with no problem. i have a good variety of anthias myself.
 
Thanks for the reply Tommy! So you dont think the pink square would attack the Lyretails? I do have plenty of LR for them to hide in... Are there any special care requirements for the pink square I should know of? Thanks
 
no really special requirement for those two species. they are pretty easy to keep. you just have to get them eating. the damsels may outcompete them for food in the beginning though. try some live food suspended in a water bottle.
 
Ive only got 2 striped sm damsels. Its also a pretty long tank.
I feed Cyclopeze,oyster eggs,Pellets,Brine,Mysis,Bloodworms,Krill,Mixed,Squid.. U name it i pretty much got it. The fish eat better than I do.... So you dont think I should have any complications? Do you think he would eventually hang out with the Lyretails or will he avoid em altogether? Thanks and sorry for ramblin on its my specialty...LOL:smokin:
 
i don't think that the single squareback will bother any of the other anthias. anthias only tend to get agressive only when showing dominance over female or the harem. they tend to be pretty well behaved when there are no other competing males or females. my anthias don't fight over territory as much.

in the past two months, I've actually been able to keep and keep alive three ventralis (one male, two females), purple queen pair, one male lori (queen tiger), pair of huchtii, a male maldives lyretail, and a male bimaculatus. none bother eachother and are all eating.they are all coming out in the open when i watch from a distance but hide if I walk up to the glass. except for the bimac, he's the bravest one so far.
 
Yea your tank is wonderful..I read your other posts and thats why im torturing you with questions.... You think the Lyretails will attack the Squareback if I insert him after them? Id hate to get a lone male ripped by an entire Harem...Thanks Tommie..Mark the reason i only want one squareback is so he doesnt feel aggressive by trying to protect his rank amongst the Harem...
 
Thanks for that, sorry was'nt trying to sound smart or anything, but i am also wanting to add a few harems of anthias to my 360g reef and wondered if their was a reason for the lone male!

Keep it coming
Mark
 
In my experience with added a lone male of the Bimaculatus and lyretail, they didn't bother the harems of other anthias. nor did the other anthias males bother them. I'm not sure if mine was an exception to the rule or if it is the norm. I do however see many other hobbyist keep different anthias together of mixed sexes successfully. Most will report that they generally establish a pecking order but few will attack another to death.

On the other hand, I've heard of different species of fish have killed anthias. territorial fish like six line wrasses and such been reported to do that.
 
Well I finally introduced the harem 5 girls 1 boy. Theyve been hiding somewhat peeking out of the rockwork.. No fights yet.
Ill post pics when I get home tommorrow night... Thanks for the help..:bum:
 
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