How many blotchy anthias?

[Ocelaris]

I've got my heart set on some blotchy anthias, and I know as a deep water anthias it's their season as my lfs just got some in. I'm looking for how many would be appropriate for my existing stock list and tank. I have a 5 foot 110 gallon with a yellow tang, two ocellaris clowns, and two Watanabe angelfish. I'd like to maybe add a lawnmower blenny, maybe eventually a wrasse. I'm not big on aggression, so I'd like to get an appropriate number that they'd be happy. They're expensive, so I'm thinking 2 or 3? I have a dedicated quarantine 40 breeder that everyone spends a month in and I have help at home to feed multiple times a day.

Thanks

 

[Robink]

I would think one. I have one just finishing up quarantine. Wanted more but had read an article that stated they would fight with each other as adults and they get 6". Mine is going in to a Red sea reefer 525 and he's about 2 inches now. Beautiful fish. ;)

 

[Ocelaris]

Thanks, I've heard of people with two, but don't recall what sized tank. The bulk reef supply 160 has just one that I recall. I just think they look like little cute monsters. I was hoping for some sort of dither fish, so if they do better alone are you considering other anthias or wrasses? Just curious how they get along with other similar feeders who are out a lot.

 

[Supurderek]

They are shy until they larger; then they become fairly aggressive to con-specifics. Also, not to be negative, they may eat great for months and one day decide to starve themselves. Mine is a very calm eater and was out competed for food by other anthias and active eaters.

 

[Robink]

Yes, I already have a coris wrasse in the DT, and want a couple more wrasses. Also going to get one sunburst anthias and then maybe 3 more anthias, haven't decided which ones yet, but they will be on the smaller side.
Fyi my blotchy anthias has been a good eater so far, kind of a pig. He will be the first anthias in the display and I'm not gonna go with any other anthias that are aggressive. Also why I'm doing the wrasse thing. They are also shy eaters.

 

[Supurderek]

Well. Wrasses can get pretty aggressive once they learn to expect food. Sunburst is good choice! I have a couple too. I did lose one to starvation after eating for six months straight being fed three times a day.

 

[Robink]

Wow, yeah I worry about that. Got lots of pods in the tank too. Coris wrasse is a little fat right now since he's the only one eating the pods. ;)

 

[Supurderek]

Nice! Well I am sure your anthia(s) will be fine. The blotched and sunburst are definitely a cryptic fish and would be very happy with caves and ledges.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Borbonius anthias can be kept singly or in prs, any more will behave aggressively toward one another.

They are more cryptic in brighter tanks, but become quite bold in time.

Most of the ones I have kept were fairly easy to train to take pellets.

 

[Ocelaris]

Thanks everyone for the Great information! I may have to rethink them if they limit me getting a timid wrasse later. I was thinking of a corris wrasse or similar pod muncher that's not aggressive, but I flasher wrasse or Leopard instead might be what I end up with. Right now I'm getting frags as I'm nearing the 1 year mark. I just thought borbs were only available in winter.

Great information that I'm going to have to do more research. I'm a little concerned about size of the borbs with the two genicanthus angels though. Just that I'm going to have a lot of fish mass eventually. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[cb684]

I would think 2 would work just fine.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks everyone for the Great information! I may have to rethink them if they limit me getting a timid wrasse later. I was thinking of a corris wrasse or similar pod muncher that's not aggressive, but I flasher wrasse or Leopard instead might be what I end up with. Right now I'm getting frags as I'm nearing the 1 year mark. I just thought borbs were only available in winter.

Great information that I'm going to have to do more research. I'm a little concerned about size of the borbs with the two genicanthus angels though. Just that I'm going to have a lot of fish mass eventually. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A borbonius will be just fine with any of the reef safe wrasses.

 

[Antics]

I think BRS has four in the 160, and they broke up into two pairs of two. Not sure if I'm misremembering, but they built the tank in a series in order to help members of the reefing community, so let's ask them :p

@Bulk Reef Supply
@RT_BRS

 

[randyBRS]

I think BRS has four in the 160, and they broke up into two pairs of two. Not sure if I'm misremembering, but they built the tank in a series in order to help members of the reefing community, so let's ask them :p

@Bulk Reef Supply
@RT_BRS

We do have 4 in the BRS160 (which is 72" x 24" x 21"). One is larger at around 3-4 inches, one is mid-sized at around just under 3 inches, and two smaller ones at around 2 inches. The larger two do their own thing on opposite ends of the tank, and one of the smaller two usually tag along. I'm not sure if the pairs are exclusive, but there are always two pairs at different ends of the tank.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I personally wouldn't go with only 2. I had three and the male would chase the girls during food time. If there were only 2, the female would never have gotten the opportunity to eat well. I had to bat him away all the time with the feeding stick.

 

[Ocelaris]

Are they all females to start and the largest change to male? The problem is that it's hard enough to find these fish, and the store I saw them in had three the same size. I'm already having an issue with two genicanthus angelfish due to them being the same size. You're saying that once they sexually diverge they don't calm down as pairs or a harem?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I picked mine out at the wholesalers at the same time and they were all the same size and indistinguishable from each other. They are a bold anthias and I don't think I'd consider them peaceful exactly. There wasn't any fights, but the male would often run the chicks to the rocks. He would steal food from the lionfish as well... off a feeding stick, no less! My red saddled anthias, now THOSE guys knew how to fight. They mouth locked and everything.

All 3 looked exactly like this when they were put into the QT.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

This was the male maybe 4 years later.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

This was one of the females. You can tell they don't have the same prominent yellow mass on the dorsal spine.