Lyretail Anthias - what are they doing?

[DmitryB]

I got 2 Lyretail Anthias (Anthi-eye?) from a fellow reefer here at R2R. Beautiful, very active fish. One is larger than the other. The smaller one is the deeper red color, the bigger one is kind of lavender pink. This morning was my first time seeing them at "Dawn" - and the larger one is doing these head-dives at the smaller one. What are they doing? And I assumed the deeper red one - though smaller - was the male... (It's very blue because this is the very beginning of the light cycle, the blue/uv lights are on at 2%, so you can't see their colors now. But the one doing the diving is the lighter colored one, coming after the deeper red.)

 

[Michael Hughes]

Lyretail Anthias (Anthi-eye?)

I can't help with the behavioral question, but yes, "anthias" is both plural and singular. One anthias, two anthias, etc.

 

[kevgib67]

I have 3 since the beginning of the year, one male and two females. The male is often randomly aggressive to the females but no marks or fin damage.

 

[mfinn]

I have 5 Lyretail Anthias in my 240. One is definitely male. It's got a purple hue and red, with a streamer dorsal fin.
The other 4 are very orange.

There is a hierarchy in the female group, and the male rules all.

 

[mfinn]

As far as the behavior, I would add 2-3 females to diffuse the aggression.

 

[DmitryB]

Ok so I learned the one with the muted colors is the male. I assumed the brighter fish was the dude, but the muted one has the streamer.

 

[DmitryB]

As far as the behavior, I would add 2-3 females to diffuse the aggression.

I am not opposed to that, just wondering if the tank can handle it? It's a 170 INT, has Hippo Tang, Two Spot Bristletooth Tang, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty Angel (these are all juveniles now,) plus a huge Golden Nugget Clown. (I'm not counting a Springeri Dottyback and Mandarins because they're not adding much bioload.) You think 2-3 Anthias would be ok? (There's also the issue of the Tangs growing! And these Anthias are active.)

 

[mfinn]

I am not opposed to that, just wondering if the tank can handle it? It's a 170 INT, has Hippo Tang, Two Spot Bristletooth Tang, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty Angel (these are all juveniles now,) plus a huge Golden Nugget Clown. (I'm not counting a Springeri Dottyback and Mandarins because they're not adding much bioload.) You think 2-3 Anthias would be ok? (There's also the issue of the Tangs growing! And these Anthias are active.)

I can't say what you can handle long term. ( not being there.) Long term I can see you rehoming your hippo tang.
I've seen tanks with more fish that I would want, but people make it work.
If you have an issue down the road with nutrients ( food/waste/algae/etc), then bigger water changes or other equipment can be added. But that's down the road.
If you would like a larger school of lyretail anthias, I'd say go for it.

 

[DmitryB]

I am not opposed to that, just wondering if the tank can handle it? It's a 170 INT, has Hippo Tang, Two Spot Bristletooth Tang, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty Angel (these are all juveniles now,) plus a huge Golden Nugget Clown. (I'm not counting a Springeri Dottyback and Mandarins because they're not adding much bioload.) You think 2-3 Anthias would be ok? (There's also the issue of the Tangs growing! And these Anthias are active.)

So I'm seriously considering adding more female Lyretails. Should I try smaller in size? I'm guessing the current male and female are full grown.

 

[mfinn]

My guess would be small to medium. You don't want to risk getting fish that are the same size as the existing male. There might be a potential fight there.
I'm thinking of adding 2-3 more to my current population and I'm going with small to medium.
With these guys there seems to always be a little bit of bickering, and the little guy is always the one on the end who takes it most.