Experience with Lyretail Anthias & Harems

[MaitlandReef]

Hey everyone! We are wanting to add one male Lyretail to our 300 gallon tank. I don't like any kind of aggression and prefer to keep a single fish of most species (one hawkfish, one damsel, one basslet, one blenny, etc). Do Lyretails do better with one male and one or more females, or is there aggression between them? Should I keep a single male Lyretail without any females? The only other anthias in the tank is a peaceful Sunburst Anthias, but I don't think they'll quarrel? Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@i cant think

 

[Freenow54]

Hey everyone! We are wanting to add one male Lyretail to our 300 gallon tank. I don't like any kind of aggression and prefer to keep a single fish of most species (one hawkfish, one damsel, one basslet, one blenny, etc). Do Lyretails do better with one male and one or more females, or is there aggression between them? Should I keep a single male Lyretail without any females? The only other anthias in the tank is a peaceful Sunburst Anthias, but I don't think they'll quarrel? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Yes to keeping a single male . I bought three one male two females, as it was recommended to buy an uneven group. Two days only the male was left

 

[craiginphoenix]

For me, Anthias are like Highlanders. There can be only one.

I have bought anywhere from 2 to 6 in the past and eventually it is survival of the fittest until one is left.

This is my current Anthias. I've had him for 2 years. He's not a Lyretail but he was one of 3 I took home and the other two were dead within a week.

Someone told me that the flake/pellet fish food contain hormones and that causes all of them to all turn to males, but people say a lot of stuff here and I don't have any idea if it's true.

But he's completely happy. He hangs around with the clownfishes and thinks he's one of them.

From my experience, buying multiple Anthias is just flushing your money down the toilet.

 

[Crimsonphoenix]

Hey everyone! We are wanting to add one male Lyretail to our 300 gallon tank. I don't like any kind of aggression and prefer to keep a single fish of most species (one hawkfish, one damsel, one basslet, one blenny, etc). Do Lyretails do better with one male and one or more females, or is there aggression between them? Should I keep a single male Lyretail without any females? The only other anthias in the tank is a peaceful Sunburst Anthias, but I don't think they'll quarrel? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Yes to keeping a single male . I bought three one male two females, as it was recommended to buy an uneven group. Two days only the male was left

Same experience here!

 

[kevgib67]

I’ve had a male and two females for about seven months, the male is beautiful but can be a jerk at times.

 

[Kooma]

Hey everyone! We are wanting to add one male Lyretail to our 300 gallon tank. I don't like any kind of aggression and prefer to keep a single fish of most species (one hawkfish, one damsel, one basslet, one blenny, etc). Do Lyretails do better with one male and one or more females, or is there aggression between them? Should I keep a single male Lyretail without any females? The only other anthias in the tank is a peaceful Sunburst Anthias, but I don't think they'll quarrel? Thanks in advance for your advice!

I have one male and two females the male is around 4” long, and likes to try and bully my chromis, my flame angel, and other small fish as well as the females. He tried to body check them out of his area and chase them off at times. I’d say it’s the most grumpy of all my fish. I’d make sure there is something bigger in the tank, my tangs don’t take his crap and the flame will chase him when he starts to annoy it. I find it funny that he thinks he runs the tank, when my 7” sailfin has clear dominance.

Mine is like a Chihuahua