Who Keeps Anthias In Schools?

[mickeyray]

What kind of anthias do you keep
Were They easy to teach to eat frozen goods
How many do you have/what's the ratio of male to female?

Two specific question.. has anyone kept a school of purple queen anthias easily (not to be confused with the other just "purple anthias")

And anyone keep pink square or sunburst anthias. (couple of the more solitary ones) btw the solitary/schooling types is based on what I've heard and read.

 

[TOM BLEVINS]

anthias

anthias

Hello,
I have a colony of Bartlett Athias which eat pretty much anything, frozen, dry flake.

ratio (3)males,(9) females in a 144 half circle. they get pretty active once the day light bulbs go off, they tend to break my SPS when courting.:mad2:
but still a very attractive fish.

also have a group of Green Chromis 8 total (large) about 6 years old now.

Regards
Tom

 

[mickeyray]

awesome

 

[Cantonesefish]

Tom, how long have you had the bartlett's?

 

[sanchoy]

Well today,

Saw some purple queens at the LFS. The employee told me to buy them because they were easy to take care of. They were on sale $20 each. I bought 3 (1male, 2female). Came home, did research and PQ anthias seem to be very hard to keep. Man, should of never buy on instinct, but the fish were on sale.

Hopefully they make it. Still in Q-tank acclimating.

 

[mickeyray]

if they r queens they can b real tuff... the hardest part is getting them to eat

 

[Chibils]

When you say purple queen, are you referring to P. tuka or P. lori? Scientific names are the only 100% reliable way to refer to a fish, as they're the only name ascribed to a species. I'll assume you're referring to P. tuka, though they're both very similar.

Neither are hardy. Need a long quarantine with a mandatory deworming via praziquantel and lots of meaty food fed regularly to keep up with their very fast metabolisms. Somewhat cryptic, easily spooked. Most do not have long-term success, but with dedication some do. Try prazi-loaded live brine and some mysis to get them eating. They also love (iirc) cyclops. Naturally planktivores. Mimicked socially by Luzonichthys waitei, an even more difficult fish to keep and one that is more difficult to acquire, though they would make a stunning display together.

Sources: The opinions of respected members of the rc society, fishbase.org, John E. Randall (A Review of Mimicry in Marine Fishes, 2005)

 

[snorvich]

Well today,

Saw some purple queens at the LFS. The employee told me to buy them because they were easy to take care of. They were on sale $20 each. I bought 3 (1male, 2female). Came home, did research and PQ anthias seem to be very hard to keep. Man, should of never buy on instinct, but the fish were on sale.

Hopefully they make it. Still in Q-tank acclimating.

It is highly unlikely that they will make it. I would definitely change LFS.

 

[MrMoses]

Take those back and get your money!!!! I bought 3 and they died very quickly for no apparent reason. I didn't know they hardly ever survive. Mine were $30 each down the drain. literally.

 

[theisdept]

we tried the L. Watai and we did not succeed.

 

[ShrimpChipGal]

Well today,

Saw some purple queens at the LFS. The employee told me to buy them because they were easy to take care of. They were on sale $20 each. I bought 3 (1male, 2female). Came home, did research and PQ anthias seem to be very hard to keep. Man, should of never buy on instinct, but the fish were on sale.

Hopefully they make it. Still in Q-tank acclimating.

If you decide to try them, remember to start them on smaller foods. They really seem to recognize cyclopees and daphnia. Frequent feeding in small portions is best.

 

[mattsilvester]

I keep the regular lyretail in a 240. sought lots of advice before adding them 2 years ago. Funny...... so "pesimistic" folk said it didn't matter how many I got, I'd end up with 3...... I can't remember how many I got (either 6 or 8), but I've got 3 left...... LOL

 

[Iwishihadgills]

I keep a group of 5 sunburst anthias in a 125. They always are out and about and playing with each other. Took mysis and spirulina brine the second day. Idk which are females in males

 

[mickeyray]

thanx so far guys... keep the info coming

 

[sanchoy]

Well all the PQ anthias decided to hide under one rock today in the Q-tank. Did not even come out at all today. Tried floating some mysis/brine/bloodworm mix in the tank to draw them out. Nothing, nada, ..

I guess the lesson learned here is:
-don't buy on instinct
-don't trust the LFS unless you really know them
-have the LFS feed the fish prior to buying.

In my case the lady at the LFS tried telling me they were already fed earlier 1 hr before purchase. I will give them until tomorrow, if no progress I will call the manager.