How big is your tank? I've never heard that Anthias are very difficult to keep. A male lyretail would fit the bill nicely, if your tank is big enough.
Something Red
- Thread starter a_free_bird73
- Start date
The tank is 50G.
What is the problem with Anthia's? Personally I have had no experience with them and initially thought they would be ideal. When I spoke to my regular LFS he told me that they don't tend to order them because they don't ship well. Also, he mentioned that his experience with them is they don't really survive well unless kept in groups of three or more and my aquarium is not big enough to house three of them. Does anyone have contradictory experience to this?
What is the problem with Anthia's? Personally I have had no experience with them and initially thought they would be ideal. When I spoke to my regular LFS he told me that they don't tend to order them because they don't ship well. Also, he mentioned that his experience with them is they don't really survive well unless kept in groups of three or more and my aquarium is not big enough to house three of them. Does anyone have contradictory experience to this?
Boogiechillin
It's ok, I confuse my students too.
Pass on the anthias. They need a lot of attention to survive and should only be attempted in a bigger tank.
Yep--the star was was a formia species. Closest pic I could find: http://www.2cah.com/pandora/F_milleporella.html
May I suggest the Flame Hawkfish. I've found it to be a peaceful and hardy tankmate. It is a beautiful deep red color and has some very interesting behaviors.
It is accepting of many types of food. Mine was easy to acclimate and it quickly found it's comfort zones and hierarchies in the long time established tank. It began eating almost immediately.
I've had it for almost 2 years now and it has grown from 2" to 2.5" so it's no threat to outgrow your tank.
It is never aggressive toward any other fish but it's not timid and comes right up and takes it's share of food at feeding time.
JMHO
It is accepting of many types of food. Mine was easy to acclimate and it quickly found it's comfort zones and hierarchies in the long time established tank. It began eating almost immediately.
I've had it for almost 2 years now and it has grown from 2" to 2.5" so it's no threat to outgrow your tank.
It is never aggressive toward any other fish but it's not timid and comes right up and takes it's share of food at feeding time.
JMHO
Boogiechillin
It's ok, I confuse my students too.
Nice fish, but a potential threat to shrimp & small inverts. Plus, I've never seen a flame hawk under $45-50, and freebird is looking for something less expensive. Good idea, though!
For the moment my wife seems to be sold on the Starfish but I will keep the hawk in mind since I would personally like to have one... Thanks for all your help
How about a royal gramma? We have one with a flame angel, blue striped sebaue clown, and 3 green chromis. All get along well. The gramma is fun to watch; eats well; and very inexpensive.
I've never heard that. I have heard that they are easily spooked so you should stay away from them if you have the more rambunctious fish such as large tangs or wrasses. I am thinking about one for my 75 gallon. I've been told that male lyretails are pretty hardy and are easily kept as single specimens.
Boogiechillin
It's ok, I confuse my students too.
Nope. I've kept lyretail, huchtii, and Bartlett's anthias before, and none are what I would describe as easy fish. A healthy anthias is in no way easily spooked; they tend to be quite territorial and will constantly attack other planktonivores like basslets, grammas, damsels, chromises, firefish, etc, and slow eaters don't stand a chance around an anthias since they can REALLY pig out. The big challenge to anthias is feeding them enough food over the course of the day - they tend to crash if fed on the 1-2x per day feeding regimen. Anthias need multiple feedings of smaller quantities of food, which isn't easy if you have work/school to contend with. Plus, all this is assuming that you can get them feeding in the first place. I would strongly recommend putting a deposit down on an anthias at a LFS so that you can let them sit on it for a week or two and make sure that it feeds before you bring it home. Stock up on diverse foods or start making your own frozen blends as they don't do well on a consistent flake diet.
Also, please realize that male anthias will typically not keep those bright, flashy colors. Find out what the female of the species looks like before you buy one as males often revert to females in the absence of a social hierarchy. (For that matter, don't try a social hierarchy unless you've got a 180+ gallon system...it's usually a mess.) You've got the best odds of success with a single specimen alone, and for a lyretail, a 75g would be about the minimum that I'd try.
Let me know if you have any questions about anthias - they are AWESOME fish if you can meet their demands!
Also, please realize that male anthias will typically not keep those bright, flashy colors. Find out what the female of the species looks like before you buy one as males often revert to females in the absence of a social hierarchy. (For that matter, don't try a social hierarchy unless you've got a 180+ gallon system...it's usually a mess.) You've got the best odds of success with a single specimen alone, and for a lyretail, a 75g would be about the minimum that I'd try.
Let me know if you have any questions about anthias - they are AWESOME fish if you can meet their demands!
