What if you can't feed Anthias 3 times a day?

[tqpolo]

I recently added a pair of young Barlette's Anthias and it's my first time keeping Anthias. I've been feeding them 2-3 times a day according to what shown as their requirement. I really don't want to keep this up long term as I will have a high bioload with all my other fish eating 2-3 times too. Will they be ok with just once a day?

 

[Alex T.]

Mine are fed twice a day. They won't eat Nori or pellet, but annihilate cyclops and anything else that's meaty. I don't think they must be fed that many times per day though.

 

[SDguy]

I recently added a pair of young Barlette's Anthias and it's my first time keeping Anthias. I've been feeding them 2-3 times a day according to what shown as their requirement. I really don't want to keep this up long term as I will have a high bioload with all my other fish eating 2-3 times too. Will they be ok with just once a day?

Technically, you aren't just asking about lessening the frequency of feeding, but also lowering the net amount of food being given to them. IME that can be a slippery slope with anthias. How about upping the water changes instead

 

[inktomi]

It's pretty easy to set up an autofeeder as well. That's how I feed my 4 Evansi Anthias 6 times a day.

1 - Frozen food in the morning
2,3,4,5 - Auto feeder in the day
6 - Frozen food in the evening

Anthias are one of those fish that are constantly feeding in the wild, and I believe it's important to try to replicate that in our tanks. An autofeeder will only cost you a few dollars, and your fish will thank you!

 

[milkman55]

I have two Bartletts and one Evansi for about four months. I started out feeding 3-4 times per day with an auto feeder, but since I have 14 different fish, they all did not need to eat 4 times per day. I now feed them Formula 1 & 2 flakes when I get home from work and Mysis right before lights out. They are plenty fat and healthy.

 

[davocean]

It's pretty easy to set up an autofeeder as well. That's how I feed my 4 Evansi Anthias 6 times a day.

1 - Frozen food in the morning
2,3,4,5 - Auto feeder in the day
6 - Frozen food in the evening

Anthias are one of those fish that are constantly feeding in the wild, and I believe it's important to try to replicate that in our tanks. An autofeeder will only cost you a few dollars, and your fish will thank you!

What are you putting in auto feeder that will eat?

OP, I agree w/ slippery slope.
What I do these days is feed my other fish first, the stuff my anthias don't eat, and that helps me spot feed anthias w/out all my fish trying to hoard food.
Maybe my bio has increased a touch more, but a good skimmer and WC's helps, and it's worth it.
Not sure I'd want to even keep anthias if I thought their health was declining from lack of effort on my part.

 

[TripleT]

+1 on replicating how they feed in nature, as best as you can

I have a scalefin anthias... loves Omega One Veggie Flakes (go figure), New Life Spectrum pellets for small fish, cyclops, mysis, and enriched brine.

I've thought about putting the flakes and pellets in an auto feeder, but I'm afraid of leaving my tank uncovered. I might drill a small hole in my canopy glass for it.

I also have two cleaner shrimp that I feed a Massivore pellet almost every day:

As they pick at the pellet, my anthias hovers and gets the pieces that float away.

And since the shrimp don't eat the pellet all at once, I know that they are essentially feeding my fish while I'm away!

 

[inktomi]

I use New Life Spectrum tiny and small pellets, as well as cyclops in my autofeeder. I mix them about 1/3, 1/3, and 1/3 pretty evenly. My anthias and clowns eat the small stuff, and my coral beauty and moorish idol eat the larger pellets.

 

[davocean]

Cool^^ thanks for tips, may add this as well to my system.

 

[tqpolo]

Well I guess the question is if Anthias are fed once a day, will they not do well and die? I mean what will happen? Before adding the Anthias I feed all my fish about 5 times a week. I skip every few days to keep my bioload low.

 

[SDguy]

Well I guess the question is if Anthias are fed once a day, will they not do well and die? I mean what will happen? Before adding the Anthias I feed all my fish about 5 times a week. I skip every few days to keep my bioload low.

IME, it's a bit more complicated than that. Firstly, the majority of anthias, when they are first imported, are quite skinny, and have lost a lot of their "bulk". Secondly, they are used to eating tiny food items constantly throughout the day. Basically, this means the majority of anthias need to be acclimated to aquarium life in two ways. They need to get accustomed to larger food items, and they need to get used to gorging themselves, and eating MUCH more than they are used to in "one sitting".

Some of the hardy, common species for sale can adapt to single feedings once per day. Of course, this is also subjective. "One feeding" for me means thawed food in a cup being fed once every 30 minutes for several hours But species like lyretails and bartletts can adapt to gorging themselves. So once they are established in the tank, once a day feedings can suffice. But I wouldn't just recommend this casually to any inexperienced anthias keeper.

And again, I'd have to say, if you are feeding 3 times a day, and the food is gone in a minute or two, and you think this is too much for your tank, then IMO you have inadequate filtration for this size tank/this amount of fish.

 

[inktomi]

+1

Your anthias will probably do ok with one or two daily feedings - but like SDGuy pointed out - they're probably thin to start with, so you'll want to feed more often for a few months and then slowly cut back.

I bet that your tank will adjust to having more food, and it won't impact your water quality as much as you think.

Also - I'm not talking about dumping lots of food in every hour. I'd feed smaller amounts more often.

 

[agent1923]

I would not another anthias with a 10 ft pole. I have lsot teh battle of keeping these awesoem specimens alive. cnat waste money and lives fo fish anymore. I owuld stay away.

 

[ca1ore]

I know this is an old thread, but FWIW I have found my Bartletts Anthias to prefer new life spectrum 1mm pallets over anything else. As soon as the Apex auto feeder becomes available, I plan to get one and use it to feed these pellets a few times a day.

 

[reeferstace]

I recently added a pair of young Barlette's Anthias and it's my first time keeping Anthias. I've been feeding them 2-3 times a day according to what shown as their requirement. I really don't want to keep this up long term as I will have a high bioload with all my other fish eating 2-3 times too. Will they be ok with just once a day?

You bought them knowing what their feeding requirments are and now you don't want to keep it up long term? Why buy them at all if you are not going to provide what they need?

 

[ca1ore]

You bought them knowing what their feeding requirments are and now you don't want to keep it up long term? Why buy them at all if you are not going to provide what they need?

Three years ago! they're either fat and happy .... or dead!

 

[woodnaquanut]

Three years ago! they're either fat and happy .... or dead!

It would be great if the OP and other 'infrequent feeders' let us know how it worked out for them.

To paraphrase Rich Ross of the Steinheart aquarium, 'You wouldn't not feed your dog because you don't want to pick up it's poop!'

In other words, feed the fish and deal with the poop!!:thumbsup:

IIRC, Anthias have little or no stomach so can't chow down on a big meal. They need many small feedings. Divide what you would normally feed into 4 or 6 feedings. All your fish will be happier!

 

[reeferstace]

Three years ago! they're either fat and happy .... or dead!

:lmao::thumbsup:

 

[keithdoc]

Bartlet's Anthias

Bartlet's Anthias

My Bartlet's Anthias is fat and happy feeding NLS 1mm sinking pellets once a day from the auto feeder.

I did feed a lot in QT. Then spot fed Reef Frenzy plus auto feeder. After about a month I dropped live food,only auto feeder (2x daily). Then after about 2 months dropped frequency to 1x daily.

He spends a lot of time in the rocks of the 125, but he's fat and comes out to be social.

Plan to add some more anthias down the road.

 

[tc2007]

I have a Bimaculatus Anthias since 8 months now. Fat and happy. I barely feed my fish 2 times a day. Once frozen once flakes etc. Once a week I feed the better mushed food and once cyclops. The Anthias is quite active and doing good so far.