aandfsoccr04
Active member
Wow! Absolutely remarkable information and breathtaking photos!
Ventralis Anthias Primer
- Thread starter tcmfish
- Start date
Stand_Alone
New member
Based on everyone's experiences, how long did it take you guys to get your ventralis to adjust to normal lights? Was there a certain method you guys used?
Stand_Alone
New member
I'm keeping a trio I just received a couple days ago from PIA at 74.
They seem to be doing great - eating nutramar ova and cyclopeeze.
Just not reacting well to the bright lights so I've kept my lights off. But, don't want to do it for too long for fear of my SPS being affected.
elegance coral
They call me EC
Bump for the same question.
My tank runs about 80ish. Sometimes up to 82. I really really really like these fish, but I don't want to cook them.
copps
Premium Member
I still have mine shown in the photos on the previous page... now going on two years! These are not a delicate fish... my male dominates the other species of anthias in the system... I can tell you though that one thing I attribute their thriving to... TEMPERATURE... as mentioned earlier I have these in a subtropical system. Whenever I've seen these fish in the wild what keeps them at depth is temperature... they can adapt to brighter lighting (as mine have), but not to higher temperatures.
Hope that helps...
Copps
Hope that helps...
Copps
Stand_Alone
New member
Copps, thanks for responding to this thread. Awesome to hear yours are doing great after two years.
How long did it take yours to adapt to brighter lights? And what type of lighting are you using in your sub tropical tank?
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
There are a ton of rules you can break in this hobby... but in my experience (drop in the bucket compared to Copps)... keeping deep/cool water fish in tropical warm temperatures (long term) isnt one of them.
copps
Premium Member
I QTed mine as usual for a couple months... on my QT tanks I use no lighting... just the ambient room lighting, and these fish were still very skittish. I think what many people consider them adapting to bright lights is just them adapting period, no matter the lighting. On my subtropical tank I run a six bulb ATI T5 fixture, and these fish are now very bold and out in the open regularly.
I had this epiphany years ago... I realized that so many deeper water/ subtropical fish were deemed "delicate" for years... and it turns out erroneously... it just didn't make sense... if they were that delicate how do they survive in the hostile coral reef environment? Species that I had for years :headwallblue: banged my head over became bold and amazingly hardier... like these ventralis... and the pair of bandit angels they share a tank with for starters...
One other note... you can break the "rules" of our forefathers in aquarium keeping, but you cannot break the rules of nature!:spin3:
Copps
billyzbear
Active member
What temps do you keep your tank?
elegance coral
They call me EC
What would be considered the "optimum" temperature range for these fish?
Stand_Alone
New member
I recently purchased a trio from PIA last Tuesday. I thought I'd share my experiences so far.
Firstly, when they arrived, I didn't realize how small they are in person! The females are about the size of a quarter. When I opened the box, I was afraid I was going to lose them. One female was on her side barely breathing. The male looked exhausted. I did a very quick acclimation and since the salinity was close, I put them in the tank. They are the 2nd set of fish introduced to the tank (first being a Hooded Fairy).
I went out for some errands knowing that they would probably be dead on my return. To my surprise, they were off the sandbed and hiding in the caves! I kept the lights off for the first 36 hours.
I'm keeping the tank at 74.5. I tried feeding Nutramar Ova the next day and to my surprise again, they ate the eggs pretty well. I noticed that PIA shipped me some fish with good weight (thanks Kevin).
So far, the male has adjusted to LED lighting pretty well. He comes out to feed in the open and has gained a lot of boldness. He swims with the Hooded Fairy as if they were best friends. He also started eating mysis. The females are still not comfortable with the lighting. They only come out at low light and in the mornings when there's only ambient room lighting.
So far I'm happy with their health. I hope they continue to eat and adjust to aquarium life.
Male
Female 1
Female 2
Group Shot
Firstly, when they arrived, I didn't realize how small they are in person! The females are about the size of a quarter. When I opened the box, I was afraid I was going to lose them. One female was on her side barely breathing. The male looked exhausted. I did a very quick acclimation and since the salinity was close, I put them in the tank. They are the 2nd set of fish introduced to the tank (first being a Hooded Fairy).
I went out for some errands knowing that they would probably be dead on my return. To my surprise, they were off the sandbed and hiding in the caves! I kept the lights off for the first 36 hours.
I'm keeping the tank at 74.5. I tried feeding Nutramar Ova the next day and to my surprise again, they ate the eggs pretty well. I noticed that PIA shipped me some fish with good weight (thanks Kevin).
So far, the male has adjusted to LED lighting pretty well. He comes out to feed in the open and has gained a lot of boldness. He swims with the Hooded Fairy as if they were best friends. He also started eating mysis. The females are still not comfortable with the lighting. They only come out at low light and in the mornings when there's only ambient room lighting.
So far I'm happy with their health. I hope they continue to eat and adjust to aquarium life.
Male
Female 1
Female 2
Group Shot
Last edited:
CuttleKid
New member
Pacific Island Aquatics
Reefing Newbie
New member
I have taken an interest in these fish. I just want to make sure corals and other inverts like clams and nems would be able to handle the lower temps that these beauties require. They are so stunning they may be worth it to just have coral if possible. 
jporter
New member
My male died after the 2nd month when I experienced some water problems. The females are thriving after 6 months now. I believe one is changing into a male finally. I keep my chiller set to 77 and they are out in the open all day long. These are the best looking fish in my tank.
