Anthias Questions

[OceanGirl70]

Which are the hardiest anthias in your experience?
Do they do best in groups?
Can you have multiple species in the tank together? If so, do they all need to be females?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Just a little hobby]

Which are the hardiest anthias in your experience?
Do they do best in groups?
Can you have multiple species in the tank together? If so, do they all need to be females?

Thanks in advance!!

I have a really hardy bicolour Anthias kept singularly because unless you have a large tank they fight and mixed species tend to fight each other. If you do keep a group I recommend 1 male and 3 females or more females.

 

[dansreef]

I have had a few over the years. I have a lyretail now. I have had large groups.... I have had multiple varieties. I have also seen some killer tanks with all sorts of Antias in large schools.

My observation: Do your research! I bought some that were too timid for my tank or that were deep water. They did not acclimate well to larger fish and to bright lighting. Anthias seem to need very frequent feeding. The larger more aggressive ones, even of the same variety will do better because they will get the most food. Any that are timid will slowly starve. Like I said, frequent feeding does best. I work from my home office and I would feed 5-7 times a day....small amounts.... but very frequently... I still had some that didn't thrive.

There was a LFS that had a 3000 trough tank and they had all sorts of anthias in it. He was able to feed very frequently and did not have other large fish in with them. The view of the tanks was really nice. I think though he even had issues with keeping them all long-term.

I have had the following varieties:
- Bi-Color
-Red Saddle Back
-Bartletts
-Lyre Tails

 

[OceanGirl70]

Thanks for the info.

 

[falconut]

I've had lyretail anthias 3 different times over many many years. I've kept a single male, male female pair & a trio (male & 2 females). Never had an issue keeping them, even with 1 feeding a day, very hardy.

Most recently I had a single male for years, then got two females & added with no issues, but my tank is now 180 gallons. About a year later, the male disappeared & 1 female fully changed to male within a few days, it was pretty cool.

I did have a single Bartlett with my single male lyretails for about a year with no issues, but then the Bartlett just disappeared. So certain species can be mixed.

 

[Terri Caton]

Here is my experience. I only have a 32 gal so decided to get just one Carberryi. It is a breeze to keep. Eats more than all the other fish combined. Plus it thinks it is best friends with my Skunk Shrimp. The shrimp gets tired of cleaning the fish so the Anthias just hangs out upside down with it!