What anthias with a pair of tuka anthias

[RJT]

I tried 2 squarespots and both were killed while in qt with them. One was beaten to death within 2 days and the other stayed under the hob filter only to dart out when I fed the tank. He still didn't last long.

Any suggestions?

 

[MIKE NY]

Purple Queens are a peaceful Anthias and tend to shoal with other peaceful Anthias....mine stay close with my Dispars...both species have simular behavior in that they are out at first light and stay high in the water column constantly searching for smaller foods items floatinng by....

 

[RJT]

That's what I thought about them being peaceful. I'll try dispars. Thanks!!

 

[hecticreefer]

Tukas will almost always be lowest on the totem pole in groups of anthias.

 

[caribfan]

Purple Queens are a peaceful Anthias and tend to shoal with other peaceful Anthias....mine stay close with my Dispars...both species have simular behavior in that they are out at first light and stay high in the water column constantly searching for smaller foods items floatinng by....

I was under the impression purple queens were one of those fish that just never make it in captivity? If this is not the case, I may be trying a group of these.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but do you recommend a group amount.

 

[RJT]

I have 2, they are the most aggressive eaters I have except for a male neon wrasse, that I have. They came in fat so I was happy. From what I read once they are established you cannot add any more Tuka anthias. They are pretty anthias that are always out. I'm still surprised about their behavior with the squarespots.

I would get 5 and feed heavily with cyclopeze only then some mysis. If no cyclopeze then the smallest nls pellets. Mine refused anything larger than cyclopeze size for weeks. If you don't have a lot of patience and a good qt cleaning regime they may not be the best fish to get. Once they are adjusted to tank life they are very hardy fish.

 

[caribfan]

Are we talking about the tukas or the purple queens here?

 

[ryanrid]

lori are also a nice mix with tuka

 

[RJT]

Are we talking about the tukas or the purple queens here?

They are the same

 

[RJT]

lori are also a nice mix with tuka

Have you tried them together? I always liked the stripes on the lori anthias

 

[ryanrid]

Have you tried them together? I always liked the stripes on the lori anthias

have both currently in my tank

 

[caribfan]

They are the same

I was thinking tuka tiger. Is that the same thing, I have to admit I'm not strong on my anthias.

 

[RJT]

Tuka tiger is a Lori anthias. Not as difficulty and about as popular. They aren't usually offered in a lfs very often.

 

[hecticreefer]

I was under the impression purple queens were one of those fish that just never make it in captivity? If this is not the case, I may be trying a group of these.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but do you recommend a group amount.

Not never, but hardly ever. Start with easier anthias first, unless you want to set yourself up for disappointment. There are some good threads and links in this forum if you search for "tuka".

 

[caribfan]

Not never, but hardly ever. Start with easier anthias first, unless you want to set yourself up for disappointment. There are some good threads and links in this forum if you search for "tuka".

I've kept a borbonius for a while now, not sure where that ranks on the difficulty scale.

The little bit of research that I did more or less pointed to these fish being in the same realm of keepability as the corralivore butterflies, (though not for the dietary reasons obviously).

If its a matter of enough feedings and water quality, I think I can handle that. It seems like with difficult species, getting a well handled and healthy specimen is usually the key to their success.

I think in the near future I may be trying a group of ventralis. I will read more on the tukas though. They were my initial choice, but it seemed everything that I read said they were not possible.

 

[chipchip]

My LFS said that evansi, dispar and tuka are after the lyretails the easiest to keep for them. The key is to get the anthias when they are small.. they had the best experienxe with small tukas..
They keep several groups uf evensi and tuka for years now..

 

[hecticreefer]

I've kept a borbonius for a while now, not sure where that ranks on the difficulty scale.

The little bit of research that I did more or less pointed to these fish being in the same realm of keepability as the corralivore butterflies, (though not for the dietary reasons obviously).

If its a matter of enough feedings and water quality, I think I can handle that. It seems like with difficult species, getting a well handled and healthy specimen is usually the key to their success.

I think in the near future I may be trying a group of ventralis. I will read more on the tukas though. They were my initial choice, but it seemed everything that I read said they were not possible.

Borbs are pretty easy IF they are healthy. Ventralis are the same. They eat frozen mysis and just need to be fed 2-3 times a day. Problem is they so often come in beat to hell and do not handle it well and die in a few weeks.

The issue with tukas is not that they come in poorly deco'd or handled very badly. They are found very shallow and handle shipping relatively well as anthias go. The problem is that feeding after you get them is hard to satisfy. Corallivorous b'flies are a good analogy.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-magazine/71849-boldly-colored-beauties-tuka-anthias.html

 

[caribfan]

Great article, thanks so much for posting that link. It's rare to get so much detailed information of reliable caliber on one species.