Well, let's hope I'm able to sucessfully transition my resplendents to my display. I believe they are actually deep water fish (I may be mixing them up with randalls), though I'm keeping them at 78 in QT along with now just a pair of smithvanzi, and they appear to be fine. I'm frankly more concerned about how they'll do with the bimacs and Bartletts in my display.
What species of anthias is this?
- Thread starter zooman72
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zooman72
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I believe both Randall's and Resplendents are considered deeper fore reef inhabitants, and I also think they fall into the category of "smaller" anthias.
Matt Wandell also wrote an article for Reefs Magazine (The Randall's Anthias - Part 2 of Shoaling Fishes) where he notes the similarities between Randall's and Resplendents anthias (also notes that they may be subspecies or color morphs of the Randall's), their deeper environmental preference, and their ability to be kept at 75-80 degrees F. It is a good article for the subject at hand.
Ed - that video rocks (not sure about the soundtrack though), and I wonder if that is the exhibit he mentions in the article I noted...
Simon, you may be correct in being concerned about the possible aggression from the larger anthias, but your tank might also be large enough for the smaller species to find their "niche"...
Also to note: my lone male continues to eat well (at 77 F), and already his ventral region seems to have "filled out" a bit, although that may just be wishful thinking and projection on my part...
Matt Wandell also wrote an article for Reefs Magazine (The Randall's Anthias - Part 2 of Shoaling Fishes) where he notes the similarities between Randall's and Resplendents anthias (also notes that they may be subspecies or color morphs of the Randall's), their deeper environmental preference, and their ability to be kept at 75-80 degrees F. It is a good article for the subject at hand.
Ed - that video rocks (not sure about the soundtrack though), and I wonder if that is the exhibit he mentions in the article I noted...
Simon, you may be correct in being concerned about the possible aggression from the larger anthias, but your tank might also be large enough for the smaller species to find their "niche"...
Also to note: my lone male continues to eat well (at 77 F), and already his ventral region seems to have "filled out" a bit, although that may just be wishful thinking and projection on my part...
Big E
Premium Member
I was referencing the deepwater species I mentioned and saw the mention of evansi. princess(smithvanzi) & ventralis in this thread so I was commenting.
Didn't mean to push it off track. I don't really consider Randalls or Resplendents deep water, but I'm no expert.
Here's some links on ventralis and John's supropical reef ----
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/76-tank-of-the-month
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068950
Didn't mean to push it off track. I don't really consider Randalls or Resplendents deep water, but I'm no expert.
Here's some links on ventralis and John's supropical reef ----
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/76-tank-of-the-month
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068950
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Nice! Excellent article. Randalls males seem to have a much deeper coloration than the Resplendant (well, mine at least
) though it may be photographic 'accentuation' also.Now THAT'S at TOTM! Seems to be able to keep his anthias colored up too, maybe that's part of the benefit of the lower temp (or feeding).
P. randalli and P. pulcherrimus are sister species, similar to P. ignitus and P. dispar, or P. squamipinnis and P. cheirospilos, that are nearly identical in appearance and habitat but occupy different geographical ranges.
I have never seen a P. randalli shallower than 100', and they are definitely found in the 300' range. They are certainly never common in shallow water like P. cheirospilos or P. hutchi. Depends on your definition of "deep" whether they are a deep water anthias or not. 69 degrees is on the rather cool side to keep them, you don't really need water that cold for fish found in the tropics until you get to the seriously deep stuff like 400-500'. Randall's will do just fine at 75 degrees or so.
No photoshop trickery there, male Randall's really do look like that if they are kept in great health with females around.
I have never seen a P. randalli shallower than 100', and they are definitely found in the 300' range. They are certainly never common in shallow water like P. cheirospilos or P. hutchi. Depends on your definition of "deep" whether they are a deep water anthias or not. 69 degrees is on the rather cool side to keep them, you don't really need water that cold for fish found in the tropics until you get to the seriously deep stuff like 400-500'. Randall's will do just fine at 75 degrees or so.
Nice! Excellent article. Randalls males seem to have a much deeper coloration than the Resplendant (well, mine at least
No photoshop trickery there, male Randall's really do look like that if they are kept in great health with females around.
Yes it is.
zooman72
New member
Not sure I agree. Even if not 'trickery' per see, the vast majority of the male randalls I have seen (though never in the wild, I'll grant that) are far more modestly colored. Regardless, I'd have preferred Randalls over Resplendents, but could not find any females for sale.
zooman72
New member
I just got back from another LFS, but one that is reef-specific (and very nicely done), and they had a lone "tierra" anthias - upon closer inspection, I believe it to be a male Randall's (had a faint red stripe running the length of its flanks).
While tempted, I decided against, even though the owner told me it had been there a couple of weeks or more, but it was highly active and constantly going after the lone female lyretail anthias and numerous flasher wrasses in the 55g display/ sale tank they shared. It was acting so much different than my resplendent male, but maybe because it had already "set up shop" in that particular tank.
I could not get a good pic either due to all the activity...
While tempted, I decided against, even though the owner told me it had been there a couple of weeks or more, but it was highly active and constantly going after the lone female lyretail anthias and numerous flasher wrasses in the 55g display/ sale tank they shared. It was acting so much different than my resplendent male, but maybe because it had already "set up shop" in that particular tank.
I could not get a good pic either due to all the activity...
Well, many fish look more modestly colored in captivity because aquarists are not keeping them in great conditions. But that anthias really does look like that, and it is possible to get them looking like that in an aquarium given proper care. You can see video of the same fish in the video posted up above. I've seen plenty of male Randall's in the wild and that's what they look like. There is a nice photo of one in Scott Michael's Reef Fishes Volume 1 as well.
Understood, which is why I made note of the fact that I have not seem them in their natural environment (I've done quite a bit of diving in that part of the world, just not that deep). All I am saying is that of the many I have seen in aquariums, some percentage of which I'd judge to be kept in 'great conditions', none looked like the one in the most colorful photos. But, should I see one like that one day in person, I'll be sure to post back here with a mea culpa.
zooman72
New member
I just got back from another LFS, but one that is reef-specific (and very nicely done), and they had a lone "tierra" anthias - upon closer inspection, I believe it to be a male Randall's (had a faint red stripe running the length of its flanks).
While tempted, I decided against, even though the owner told me it had been there a couple of weeks or more, but it was highly active and constantly going after the lone female lyretail anthias and numerous flasher wrasses in the 55g display/ sale tank they shared. It was acting so much different than my resplendent male, but maybe because it had already "set up shop" in that particular tank.
I could not get a good pic either due to all the activity...
Nice - I think I just "jinxed" myself...
My male is now going after the clowns and new damsels (tuxedo and Tracy's) it is in the QT with - prazi treatment is almost done, and then he is off to his display...
Was able to get all nine (7resplendent; 2 princess) successfully through almost 8 weeks of QT. Moved them to the big display last night. Fingers crossed!
Had been feeding them almost 10 times per day in QT, so they should have plenty of reserves to deal with a little bullying; probably from my Bartlett trio. Nine is a lot of aggression dispersion though, so we shall see.
Had been feeding them almost 10 times per day in QT, so they should have plenty of reserves to deal with a little bullying; probably from my Bartlett trio. Nine is a lot of aggression dispersion though, so we shall see.
zooman72
New member
Very nice Simon! Send a pic when you get a good one - would be interesting to see how they disperse in your larger system.
I placed my two (both males?) in my much smaller display just the other day, and so far so good. Still just feeding twice per day so far (mix of fortified brine shrimp, mysis, plankton, and krill, with occasional pellets), but they seem to be holding weight so far.
I will try to get a pic up shortly, but have been busy working on my new 50g cube that is a replacement/ consolidation of my 14g and 28g cubes...
I placed my two (both males?) in my much smaller display just the other day, and so far so good. Still just feeding twice per day so far (mix of fortified brine shrimp, mysis, plankton, and krill, with occasional pellets), but they seem to be holding weight so far.
I will try to get a pic up shortly, but have been busy working on my new 50g cube that is a replacement/ consolidation of my 14g and 28g cubes...
