Which Anthias for a school in 120gallon
- Thread starter AliciaP
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IME dispar, ignitus, and parvirostris tend to hang out with each other the most. Lyretails are also beautiful and very hardy, but keep a bit more distance between each other. Squarespots are just too big, and bartletts almost always turn all male, and stay separated after that.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Your question sounds like you want fish that will tightly school, like FW tetras. There are't any. Sorry if I misinterpreted .
hkgar
Active member
How long have you had them? From what I have read, schooling is a protective device and in most cases the schooling fish fight to become the dominant one and you usually end up with just one as they die off in battle with each other.
brannock_16
Member
+1 to this. Sd guy knows what he's talking about.
To some extent, depending on species, but not as much, no.
drukkosz
Member
Couple of months. I have one male that is much bigger that the rest of them so he keeps them in line
I have a group of 6 Squampinis (Lyretails) and love them, one of my favorite additions to the tank so far. They swim together a fair bit, but they also go their separate ways during the day too, they are very active fish and added some nice color and movement i really felt i was lacking.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I think our tanks are just too small for fish to school. Two anthias, in opposite corners of a 240 gal tank would probably consider themselves in the same school. A school of most fish on the reef will be scattered over hundreds of thousand of cubic feet. A school of FW fish may occupy no more than 100 cu.ft. (Arbitrary numbers)
AliciaP
New member
I think I'm going to go with 2 females and 1 male. My husband really wants Serranocirrhitus latus (Sunburst Anthias or something like that). Anyone have experience with them or can recommend another pretty two color Anthias?
I'm going to also get Banaii Cardinals. I heard that while they don't swim very much like Chromis or Anthias, they school better. Does that sound okay?
One more question, I have clowns that just started breeding (only took them 3 years!)... If I am looking to try and raise some fry, should I just forget having Anthias? Will they bother the clowns spawning much?
I'm going to also get Banaii Cardinals. I heard that while they don't swim very much like Chromis or Anthias, they school better. Does that sound okay?
One more question, I have clowns that just started breeding (only took them 3 years!)... If I am looking to try and raise some fry, should I just forget having Anthias? Will they bother the clowns spawning much?
brannock_16
Member
Bangaii cardinals will not shoal together. They will selectively pick each other off until there are only two cardinals left. One of the few fish that actually demonstrates shoaling in home aquaria is the threadfin cardinal. They do have a dismal mortality rate from shipping, but once established are quite hardy. I would look to add 9-13 in a 120. Very subtle, yet beautiful fish IMO.
gewehermeister
New member
I'm by far not an expert but ime with 15 stocky or bloodspot anthias I have lost down to a group of 8 now. When getting a school or group you don't know how many may be sub dominant males. I had 3 and they didn't fight that I saw but they slowly disappeared over the course of 2 years. More would mature until now I have 7females and a large dominant male. Here he is with a few of the females one is actually a squami. By the way this is in a 150g.
Agreed, which is why I think species selection is so important. Squarespots will do as you describe. Even lyretails to some extent. Dispar and ignitus will stay much closer. Even in my 4' 150g they would not occupy the entire tank!
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