Blotched anthia tank size?

[coralreefer123]

Can someone please explain why the borbonius (blotched) anthia specifically needs a large tank size? I understand why other anthia species, need larger tanks as some can do best in groups and are active swimmers. Based on what I can find online, the borbonius typically hides in live rock and caves, so why the large tank?

I wanted to get a trio or maybe just two to try and pair in a “borbonius only” tank with liverock only and low lighting. Can two juveniles be in a smaller set up long term if it’s just them and they are cave dwellers? Thank you

 

[Sigmund]

What is the size of the tank? Long- term forever, or a year or so?

 

[coralreefer123]

Thank you, there isn’t a tank or anything now it’s more hypothetical to se did I would want to set one up. But wasn’t sure if they were active swimmers or stayed in a smaller territory

 

[Naekuh]

Mine stays close to my toadstool.
Its claimed that his spot until it gets dark, where he goes off hiding inside my rocks in my NSA scape.
He is active during the day, i have a 150G and he takes up the front 1/4 of it.
He isn't as active as my other anthias which are schoolers and school with chromis.
But he will camp his feeding ring and his toadstool.

Mine is also going 2yrs+ now. Very happy and active.
He is alone, but i have 6 other anthias in the tank along with 7 chromis.
I had 7 anthias but one died reciently.

As for jumpers.. i do not really know.
I had chromis jump out, but not an anthais yet.. but i do have a lid for my cover.

As for how long they live, i am hearing many different things.
But mine looks like he wont kick the bucket yet, unless something goes south in my tank.

For food it might be difficult.
Mine only started off eatting frozen.
Then it took to freeze dried stuff.
Now i feed it mostly freeze dried krill, freeze dried mysis and it will take pellets here and there.

 

[Sigmund]

I have had 3. First 2 got to about 4 inches were in a 125. Had for about 4 years. Have one now in a IM 50 with lots of caves. I feel like the 50 is big enough fully grown. Two in that size would be a little tight unless very lightly stocked other than the 2 anthias. Eat any frozen, all of mine eventually would beg for food at glass over time. When looking from distance usually in and out of caves.

 

[coralreefer123]

Thank you so much for that information! If I did ever set up a Borbonius-only tank it would be liverock and low lights/just room lights but I wouldn’t want to dedicate a 100 gallon just to that. Thats why I was wondering if a pair could be in a much smaller space.

 

[coralreefer123]

I have had 3. First 2 got to about 4 inches were in a 125. Had for about 4 years. Have one now in a IM 50 with lots of caves. I feel like the 50 is big enough fully grown. Two in that size would be a little tight unless very lightly stocked other than the 2 anthias. Eat any frozen, all of mine eventually would beg for food at glass over time. When looking from distance usually in and out of caves.

would a 30-40 gallon be okay for two Borb only- no other fish in the tank? Also, do you feed more often? How many times a day?

 

[Naekuh]

Nah mine cares nothing about the lights.
He sits under 2 x ecotech radeons XR30 G6 + Kessil AP9x and even a UV bar while pearched on the toadstool like a boss.

If i could get him sunglasses i would, but he seems to not mind, and prefers it because his toadstool sits at the top.

I feed once per day... well he doesn't eat from the flake auto feeder, but his own which dispenses freeze dried stuff.


This is what he really loves:
Amazon product

I would recommend it, because feeding it frozen every day can become a chore.

 

[Klem]

Blotched Anthias, in my experience, have been difficult. Many years ago I couldn’t get them to last more than 2 years. I’ve recently dove back in and have one that’s been with me for a year. Most of my Tangs are 8 years old+ and I’m hoping this new Blotched goes the same distance. Time will tell. Like Nuekuh, mine claimed a corner and hangs out there all day in the upper water column. At night he hides in the rock. Beautiful fish! He’s in a 350 gallon tank.

 

[Naekuh]

Its funny when people realize he's my most expensive fish.

Most people think its the Foxface i have, as he is GIGNORMOUS, and blows bubbles at the top of the tank all day.
Then i have a Tang, but not the tang i wanted, but a Tomini Tang.
I wanted a purple, but i bought the Blotched instead.

But yes like Klem says i have heard many different things about how long they live.. how they wont eat anything but frozen, or how they need a dark tank.

Well im hoping mine stays a mutant and goes beyond what i heard about them like it has for many many years to come.

 

[Sigmund]

Like the caves and the flow, but also areas to get out of flow. Higher light never seemed to bother them. My lighting is not acro level bright though. Try to feed 3 times a day. In with some wrasses / basslets / gobies. I would say 40 to 50 minimum for 2. But design can help, minimalistic with some shade etc.

 

[coralreefer123]

Blotched Anthias, in my experience, have been difficult. Many years ago I couldn’t get them to last more than 2 years. I’ve recently dove back in and have one that’s been with me for a year. Most of my Tangs are 8 years old+ and I’m hoping this new Blotched goes the same distance. Time will tell. Like Nuekuh, mine claimed a corner and hangs out there all day in the upper water column. At night he hides in the rock. Beautiful fish! He’s in a 350 gallon tank.

Thank you for this information. I am leaning towards not starting a borb only tank given the size they need

 

[skey44]

Ideally I’d say 150 gallons or more. They are big bodied and active fish. My larger specimen was probably almost 5”. I had a pair in a 185. Great community fish. Only issue I had was they would eat anything introduced after them that would fit in their mouth. That school of twenty cardinals sure was an expensive experiment

 

[coralreefer123]

Ideally I’d say 150 gallons or more. They are big bodied and active fish. My larger specimen was probably almost 5”. I had a pair in a 185. Great community fish. Only issue I had was they would eat anything introduced after them that would fit in their mouth. That school of twenty cardinals sure was an expensive experiment

That’s cool you had a pair but terrible they are your cardinals!! Thanks for letting me know about the need for a larger tank