Sunburst Anthias

S

Schumacher

New member
I got a Sunburst Anthias last Saterday I acclimated him for about 45 minutes and as soon as I let him do he swam behind the the wall of rocks in my tank it's been about three days now and all he does is lodge himself between rocks back there. I havnt got him to eat and the only other fish I have in the tank is a Fourline Wrasse. The tank I have him in is a 30 gallon with great water params. He hasnt lost any color over the last few days what shoul I do? Are these fish shy at first?
 
Extremely shy, and getting one that feeds isn't always easy.

I've only had one - but kept down in QT for an extended period [6 or 7 weeks] as it was so shy. Took a few weeks before it would eat with me in the room [had to hide behind shelves and wait for first week or so]. Never would come out until a few weeks into QT - which was a tank stocked with a good amount of LR and no other livestock, in my basement in a quiet corner.

I dunno if you can house it by itself for a while, but I would if you could. Unsure if the wrasse would bully it - these are scaredy-fish IME and even my blenny hassles my Sunburst.

Good luck with it. I'd feed and leave the room/move far from tank and try to keep the tank as mellow as possible for the next months. These aren't easy fish - but you can have them swimming out regularly, healthy and nicely colored a year + later.

Good luck.
 
I got mine and for the first week i never saw him so i thought he was dead. One day i fed and he ate, since then he comes out now sometimes when im in the room and all the time when im not.
 
Gear the tank around it, give it lots of overhangs and very mellow tankmates [best recommendation I've seen was the Marine Center, which suggests nothing more aggressive than a fairy wrasse] .... and lots of a wide variety of food, IMO.

Here's mine approaching 1 year [now about 15 months in-tank]
28196sunburst-sweet.jpg


Having a tank that was low-stocked, without any aggressive [in the least] fish is where I attribute a lot of my success.
 
Positive he has all the markings of one and body shape and tail. It's hard to tell with actinics only. I read in a article reasently that you should not buy cheaper ones because they could have been poorly taken care of.
 
The coralline on the glass makes it look like he has a spot in the photo ... but I see the lighter `lines' on the lower face.

I wish you the best of luck with him. Would suggest feeding daily, if not small portions multiple times. I've ended up feeding more often - though the same amount and feel like my fish have benefitted from that. IMO probably more natural for them ... and figuring I snack a lot, figure it's only right to share :)
 
the eye and face definately look sunburst like, but the upper body looks kinda like it has stripes. Reminds me of one of those Geo Pygmy Hawkfish
 
Anthias Advice

Anthias Advice

Guys, Noob here with some Anthias questions.

I am totally fascinated by these dazzling fish. I really love the male Lyretail. Liveaquaria has both the male and female on sale for $19.00 each, (small) a very good price in my opinion.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=54
I'd like to put the pair in my 47 gal cube. The tank is tall but not too much floor space, only 2'X3' I have 30 pounds of Marshal Island live rock stacked on top of about 10 pounds of base rock that is starting to get some coralline growth, with lots of little caves and holes for hiding, 20 pounds of aragonite live sand, a Midas Blenny, Coral Beauty and a very small Yellow Striped Maroon clown which is the smalles fish in the tank, one Peppermint Shrimp and some hermits and snails, maybe half a dozen Aiptasia a few Mushrooms that hitchhiked in on the rock. The rock was well cured and cycled with a lot of Coralline when I bought it for ten bucks a pound. All water prams are perfect. CPR BakPak skimmer with one big powerhead.

These three fish were added at the same time two weeks ago and are getting along very well, all sleeping in the same cave in the LR all in one corner of the tank. All three are eating like little pigs three feedings a day of frozen M. Shrimp mixed with good quality flake.

Do you guys think adding these two Anthias will pose a problem? I think I want to order the small pair, but maybe I should get bigger ones since the other three fish have already established territory. Or perhaps just getting the male alone would be best.

Any advice much appreciated.
SD
 
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wow, there is no way you can keep more than 2 anthias ALONE in a 47g tank. With those fish, you may be able to put one anthia.

IF you didn't have a coral beauty, or a maroon clown, 2 anthias maybe.

but they are hard to feed, since they eat constantly, and will create quite a bioload. They also need plenty of area to swim. I'd say don't do it. Get one if you really want.
 
Kinetic:

Thanks for the quick reply. You're probably right, the more I read the more I think not. Do you think one small male lyretail would work with this bunch? Or would a larger single male do better. Or better yet, perhaps a Scott's Fairy Wrasse (Cook Island) for my center peice fish.
 
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Sumpdiver - IMO, with the Midas and the Beauty - there's a good bit of aggression in a tank that is small for a very swimmy fish.

Sunburst can swim quite well - but IMO nowhere near most other Anthias species. Also - most do best in groups - so a solitary anthias in a small tank [for most variety] I would avoid - really only a Sunburst with the most mellow compatriots and 3' of swimming space is as cramped as I prefer.

IMO, a Scotts or large fairy wrasse I'd skip as well in a smaller tank. Given their constant swimming ability, little more than a second from end to end ... IMO just a bit small.
 
MiddletonMark: Thanks for your reply: I'm sure you guys are right. However, I figured it would be more the Maroon that would be the problem. The Beauty and Blenny seem so laid back, but it is early, that may all change. I have bigger tanks in storage, perhaps its best I wait for these fast swimmers. Any recommendations on any tankmates for my little threesome, or is three abut the limit for 47 Gal tall?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7345059#post7345059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SumpDiver
MiddletonMark: Thanks for your reply: I'm sure you guys are right. However, I figured it would be more the Maroon that would be the problem. The Beauty and Blenny seem so laid back, but it is early, that may all change. I have bigger tanks in storage, perhaps its best I wait for these fast swimmers. Any recommendations on any tankmates for my little threesome, or is three abut the limit for 47 Gal tall?
Click to expand...

The sunburst can also get to 5", that's way too big. I don't think it'd be smart to put an anthia in your tank. There are plenty of others, though I'd say your tank is pretty stocked now and you shouldn't add anything else, and if you do not for a couple months to help the biological filters build up.

It's usually safest to introduce one fish at a time because the biological filtration, meaning the detrivores and bacteria, have to grow and if they can't handle the new bioload you'll have water param problems.

I'd recommend keeping your fish stock as is =)
 
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