Anthias questions

[Mattchamp]

Hello so recently I've been considering buying a anthias and I was wondering what species are good for beginners?, do they have specialized diets?, do they get along with other planktonicvores?, and can I have just one? Any help would be great ;)

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Anthias have very fast metabolisms and need to be fed frequently. I would feed them at least twice daily. They are a peaceful fish. What size tank do you have and the inhabitants?

Lyretail anthias are fairly hardy. I would recommend getting all females to start. Females seem hardier to me.

 

[Rob.D]

I have found that Lyretail Anthias are the easiest to keep. The amount of Anthias you can keep depends on the size of the aquarium.
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Reef Aquariums: Lyretail Anthias Fish

 

[jedimasterben]

Lyretail are definitely the easiest to keep. I would be sure to feed them more than twice a day, though, especially when you first get them - I would feed them five or more times per day for several weeks and then cut back if you want to. Me, I feed mine at least four times daily with a variety of foods. I have lyretail, Bartlett's, dispar, and stocky anthias.

They are peaceful to other fish, but some anthias will show aggression amongst themselves. I'd get a group of female lyretails (3 or more) and go from there. One will turn into a male once it reaches maturity and hierarchy is established.

 

[Mattchamp]

I have a 75g mixed reef I worry that they might get mean with "Nigel" my juvenile niger triggerfish will my anthias terrorize him?

 

[jedimasterben]

Quite the opposite, they will possibly end up as food for the trigger.

 

[Mattchamp]

I'm not so sure because I also have a clown goby and the trigger is bigger and the goby terrorizes the trigger I'll still try it out, anyways do I have to have a group of anthias for them to thrive?

 

[Bigdaddy]

Lyretails are easy but once one turns to a female it might get mean i had 3 females 1 male and he was nasty chased everyone in the tank they are listed on live aquaria as semi aggressive

 

[3Twinklets]

The Lyretail is also one of my favorites, but I will have to agree with the snack for the Trigger Lol!
You can just have one.

 

[Mattchamp]

Oh ok btw will they breed If I have a group? (very unlikely)

 

[Mattchamp]

And also are they infamous jumpers like wrasses and gobies?

 

[Logzor]

I also recommend he lyretail. They will jump at first but will not once they are used to and established in the aquarium, in my experience. To my knowledge there is no documented reports of captive breeding.

 

[Mattchamp]

Are there any other types of anthias that are hard? And aren't they related to groupers? Sorry for all the question

 

[Mattchamp]

Hardy

 

[jedimasterben]

I'm not so sure because I also have a clown goby and the trigger is bigger and the goby terrorizes the trigger I'll still try it out, anyways do I have to have a group of anthias for them to thrive?

What you have is really an exception, not a rule - triggers are aggressive fish, and niger triggers are on the more aggressive side. Triggers eat anthias in the wild.

 

[jedimasterben]

If you're just starting out with anthias, stick with lyretails.

 

[Mattchamp]

What you have is really an exception, not a rule - triggers are aggressive fish, and niger triggers are on the more aggressive side. Triggers eat anthias in the wild.

I thought niger triggerfish were less agressive than most other triggers and that they mainly feed on small free floating plankton

 

[Mattchamp]

What about the squareback anthias?

 

[Rob.D]

What about the squareback anthias?

What size tank do you have? Square backs get quite large.

 

[3Twinklets]

The Ventralis Anthias is by far the most beautiful in my opinion but must be kept with peaceful fish and no other Anthias The Squareback is minimal although quite large. The Blotchy is beautiful. Evansii and Bartlett's are very pretty also.
The Lyretail would be a good choice. Their front fin has polka dots and they are fairly friendly. Meaning that they do not spend most of their time hiding.