Ventralis Anthias

[michael_cb_125]

These are fish that I have always wanted. IMO there are not many fish that can combine the color, body shape, personality and elegance like a healthy
P. ventralis.

So, I snatched up the trio from the DD the other night. These little fish have been in my QT for a few days now and are doing very well.

I have been feeding these little fish five times per day, as much as they will eat.

I am feeding Garlic, Vit.C, and Selcon soaked mysis and spirulina flake.
All three fish are aggressive feeders and already recognized me and my yellow cup of "foody-goodness".

These fish will be going into my Elos 120, in place of Hawaiian Longfin Anthias. I figure they resemble the longfins pretty closely, but have a slightly better track record.

I will keep posted.

~Michael

 

[skibum9884]

Michael,

Looking great. How do you feel about them? I generally hear that they're pretty finicky and difficult to keep happy and fat.

Please keep us posted with their progress. Beautiful fish and pictures!

-David

 

[michael_cb_125]

Obviously I need more time to form any sort of accurate opinion on these fish, but as of now:

They are eating aggressively
They are not finicky and will eat mysis from a toothpick at the water surface
They are showing no outward signs of disease
They show no signs of aggression
And they are very pretty

~Michael

 

[NexDog]

Very regularly available and cheap but I always steered clear as I heard they were poor eaters. But if they eat mysis and spirulina then I think I'll get some.

 

[michael_cb_125]

The "fact" that these fish often fail to feed in captivity is one of the reasons I have not tried them until now. But I figured coming from LA DD, they have as good of a shot as any.

~Michael

 

[roktsintst]

You Dog!!!

I wanted those :mad2:

I have been waiting for someone to come forward with who bought these. They are an incredible anthias and I am very jealous!!!

Im glad they are going to a good home though.

Good luck and keep us posted with updates and pictures!!!!

 

[michael_cb_125]

Thanks Ryan!

I will keep posted, if not here in my Elos Thread!!!

Michael

 

[kcreefer86]

if i were you, i'll would treat with prazipro..just cuz you dont see flukes or signs of it.doesnt mean they dont have it....imo

 

[michael_cb_125]

They are in a QT.

I will be treating with PraziPro and Cupramine.

~Michael

 

[stunreefer]

They look great Michael!

If one were to ever attempt these guys you couldn't have a better chance then through Kevin :thumbsup:

 

[rachenbrazil]

Nice fishes. So good they are in good hands as yours hope you can gives us more info on how to keep them in long terms.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Thanks everyone!!

I have high hopes for these fish. They are at Megan's house in their QT. Now that we are sure they are feeding well and not letting any food fall to the bottom we plan on feeding them much more frequently.

Starting today Megan is feeding them every hour. I truly believe that the main issue with these fish (other than collection/stress) is that they do not receive the proper amounts of food in our little glass boxes.

Being small they cannot each very much at one time (I have counted and they generally stop feeding after consuming about 10-15 mysids), but after about 30 minutes they act as though they have not eaten in weeks. Also, when looking at the swimming habits of these fish, it is obvious that they must eat quite frequently. They remind me of a hummingbird, the way they constantly flutter their tail and pectoral fins.

I will be sure to keep posted on these little fish, and will comment frequently on how they tolerate meds in a QT environment.

~Michael

 

[roktsintst]

That is the exact same thing my Multifasciata do. It is much harder to feed them now that they are in the 300, but while in QT they would eat 5ish brine at a time and then let the rest float around in the tank. Then 30 minutes to an hour later they would act starving again and eat another 5 bites each and tht was it. I relaly think smaller fish and more active fish need to be fed much more frequently!!!

 

[roktsintst]

How are they doing Michael?

And what are they eating?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Hey Ryan!

They are doing very good. They no longer hide when someone walks past the tank. I strategically placed the QT in a high traffic area of the house. I have always done this to get my fish used to me, and I have very good luck. If I get fish that are too finicky I have a blanket that I cover the tank with, but I have not had to do this with these fish.

They are eating whole mysis, brine, and flake foods. They will take in pellets, but then spit them back out. They will actually pick the mysis from the toothpick that I feed from



~Michael

 

[stunreefer]

Great news!

I generally soak Spectrum pellets in a bit of tank water prior to feeding... softens them up and encourages finicky fish to take 'em down.

 

[roktsintst]

Awesome!!!

 

[michael_cb_125]

Austin- I have been soaking the tiny pellets in selcon until they absorb all of it. They expand about three times normal size. They anthias say they are too good for that, they only want fresh foods. Stuck-Up little buggers.

Ryan-they have another trio being posted this evening----- they have your name all over them.

~Michael

 

[roktsintst]

Yes...yes... I'll be hunting for them!!!

 

[Cantonesefish]

Michael you have a beautiful trio! Glad they are doing so well for you.

Good luck Ryan!