Orange Anthias

[Wandering Albatross]

Good evening all, I’m looking into a small group of anthias to share the upper water column with some blue/green chromis for movement. Ideally one of the types that’s less likely to kill each other off. Need an orange fish, and I already have 2 BLK clowns inconing and didn’t want to risk 2 pairs in a 150g, so need something else that’s orange. I’d use an Achilles to fill that color spectrum over the gold rim I’m considering if I thought it had a chance of fitting.

Recommendations?

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I’d go with a group of Lyretails, probably 5 or 7.

I haven’t had Lyretails kill each other off, but Chromis have. Some have success keeping the Chromis from killing each other when they mix them in with Anthias.

Also, just be cautious because both Chromis and Anthias are prone to uronema.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I’d go with a group of Lyretails, probably 5 or 7.

I haven’t had Lyretails kill each other off, but Chromis have. Some have success keeping the Chromis from killing each other when they mix them in with Anthias.

Also, just be cautious because both Chromis and Anthias are prone to uronema.

Will 5 lyretails fit with 7 chromis and maybe a surgeon? Or with there not be enough swimming room? 5ft tank. Little over half the tank is currently open water, as the corals are still quite young. Do they ever lash out between species, or just at their own kind? I’d expect some squabbling between same species fish, but I’d hate to see the tang for example start shredding either one because he swam too close. I want the movement though, and the loose schooling behavior is fascinating to watch. Trying not to overstock, and I still have a few more after this that I’d like to add, assuming I have space. I already feed 3x or more a day so if extra food will help I can certainly do that.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I have 5 tangs in my 450g and I never see them chase any fish (except a little squabbling amongst themselves every once in a while).

In a 5 ft tank I believe you could do 5 Lyretails and 7 Chromis. I would stick to one of the smaller tangs species/genus though…ie not Naso, Sailfin, etc.

Feeding 3x a day is probably sufficient for even the anthias.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I have 5 tangs in my 450g and I never see them chase any fish (except a little squabbling amongst themselves every once in a while).

In a 5 ft tank I believe you could do 5 Lyretails and 7 Chromis. I would stick to one of the smaller tangs species/genus though…ie not Naso, Sailfin, etc.

Feeding 3x a day is probably sufficient for even the anthias.

I was thinking gold rim, several vendors say they can fit in a 125g, while nasos and the like are rated at 200+. There was a smaller one I would be ok with, one of the bristletooth size, but they’re never in stock. I’d rather an Achilles, clown, or gem tang instead, but I don’t want them totally cramped or tearing up my other fish. At least one vendor thinks 3 gold rims could technically fit in a 150 if added small and all at once, but I wasn’t sure if I believed that. First tang so little nervous, but want something that’ll look good too. Gold rims only get to 8” max whereas the nasos and sail fins get huge, so maybe a case by case basis?

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I was thinking gold rim, several vendors say they can fit in a 125g, while nasos and the like are rated at 200+. There was a smaller one I would be ok with, one of the bristletooth size, but they’re never in stock. I’d rather an Achilles, clown, or gem tang instead, but I don’t want them totally cramped or tearing up my other fish. At least one vendor thinks 3 gold rims could technically fit in a 150 if added small and all at once, but I wasn’t sure if I believed that. First tang so little nervous, but want something that’ll look good too. Gold rims only get to 8” max whereas the nasos and sail fins get huge, so maybe a case by case basis?

I would stay away from Naso, Sailfin, Clown, Sohal, even hippos get pretty large. Mine is probably 10”.

If you really want three of the same tangs I would do three Biota Yellows at the same time.

Tang aggression is real…even in my 8 ft/450g. I tried to add a Blue Face Scopas Tang and my Yellow was relentless. I had to move the Scopas out to my 270g system.

I think you would be ok with a small Goldrim. My Powder Brown has stayed pretty small and I’ve had it 3 years or so. It’s probably 5”. I will say out of my 5 tangs in the 450g (Hippo, Mimic, Tomini, Yellow, Powder Brown) the Powder Brown is by far the most active when it comes to side to side swimming. Really pretty fish imo.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I would stay away from Naso, Sailfin, Clown, Sohal, even hippos get pretty large. Mine is probably 10”.

If you really want three of the same tangs I would do three Biota Yellows at the same time.

Tang aggression is real…even in my 8 ft/450g. I tried to add a Blue Face Scopas Tang and my Yellow was relentless. I had to move the Scopas out to my 270g system.

I think you would be ok with a small Goldrim. My Powder Brown has stayed pretty small and I’ve had it 3 years or so. It’s probably 5”. I will say out of my 5 tangs in the 450g (Hippo, Mimic, Tomini, Yellow, Powder Brown) the Powder Brown is by far the most active when it comes to side to side swimming. Really pretty fish imo.

Very nice!

I don't mind waiting on the big boys until my larger system is ready, I'm just trying to see if I can swing a tang gang. When grown they'd be my largest in girth, and second longest fish in this tank.

I'd do 2 gold rims to give them more space, but the vendor said if more than 1 then go 3 not 2, at the same time to distribute aggression. They'd all hypothetically come in at 2.5-3" as my last or almost last additions (depends on when certain fish will come back in stock, but those are all little guys ). I've been recommended the yellows, but they do very little for me personally. The purples maybe, but I'm not keen on the shape or lack of markings. They're useful, but a touch overrated to me. I'd rather take the hit and do one gold rim. Besides, I already fulfilled my obligation for yellow with a yellow watchman and a 'not quite yellow yet' watchman.

Who knows, maybe my larger blenny will put them all in their place and they won't have a chance to get mean. That ornery little bugger has put me off any more blennies all together.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Very nice!

I don't mind waiting on the big boys until my larger system is ready, I'm just trying to see if I can swing a tang gang. When grown they'd be my largest in girth, and second longest fish in this tank.

I'd do 2 gold rims to give them more space, but the vendor said if more than 1 then go 3 not 2, at the same time to distribute aggression. They'd all hypothetically come in at 2.5-3" as my last or almost last additions (depends on when certain fish will come back in stock, but those are all little guys ). I've been recommended the yellows, but they do very little for me personally. The purples maybe, but I'm not keen on the shape or lack of markings. They're useful, but a touch overrated to me. I'd rather take the hit and do one gold rim. Besides, I already fulfilled my obligation for yellow with a yellow watchman and a 'not quite yellow yet' watchman.

Who knows, maybe my larger blenny will put them all in their place and they won't have a chance to get mean. That ornery little bugger has put me off any more blennies all together.

I think getting three instead of two is solid advice in terms of spreading out aggression. Understand on not wanting yellows or purples.

If you do only one Goldrim and upgrade tanks in the future then just add it and other tangs at the same time and it shouldn’t be a problem.

I think you could add some type of bristletooth along with the Goldrim in the 150 without issue. The bristletooths are workhorse tangs.

 

[AviR]

Dispar anthias, never had a problem, got incredible once some started to turn male and they still never fought

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I think getting three instead of two is solid advice in terms of spreading out aggression. Understand on not wanting yellows or purples.

If you do only one Goldrim and upgrade tanks in the future then just add it and other tangs at the same time and it shouldn’t be a problem.

I think you could add some type of bristletooth along with the Goldrim in the 150 without issue. The bristletooths are workhorse tangs.

If I went 3 small gold rims, would a small bristletooth no longer be an option? Or only a bristletooth with a single gold rim? I've got quite a few small fish already, plus my 3 long ones but they're pretty stationary.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Dispar anthias, never had a problem, got incredible once some started to turn male and they still never fought

How many did you keep?

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

If I went 3 small gold rims, would a small bristletooth no longer be an option? Or only a bristletooth with a single gold rim? I've got quite a few small fish already, plus my 3 long ones but they're pretty stationary.

The Goldrims and bristletooth shouldn’t really fight. If the plan is for all of these fish to go into a bigger tank in the future then you could probably do all of them. If there isn’t a set plan for a larger tank down the road I would probably stick with one Goldrim and one bristletooth…but that’s just my opinion.

These fish swim miles in the ocean…as opposed to Chromis or anthias that hover above/in the reef structure.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

The Goldrims and bristletooth shouldn’t really fight. If the plan is for all of these fish to go into a bigger tank in the future then you could probably do all of them. If there isn’t a set plan for a larger tank down the road I would probably stick with one Goldrim and one bristletooth…but that’s just my opinion.

These fish swim miles in the ocean…as opposed to Chromis or anthias that hover above/in the reef structure.

I plan on a large FOWLR system some time down the road for the some of the above-mentioned big tangs, triggers, puffers, eels, and angels, but after the cost of this setup, unless I win the rich or tolerant husband lotto, it'll be a while before that larger system can happen. However, if it/they were still around at that time, they'd go in with the big boys. Only reason I considered the gold rim/s was because several vendors said they could fit in a 125g.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I plan on a large FOWLR system some time down the road for the some of the above-mentioned big tangs, triggers, puffers, eels, and angels, but after the cost of this setup, unless I win the rich or tolerant husband lotto, it'll be a while before that larger system can happen. However, if it/they were still around at that time, they'd go in with the big boys. Only reason I considered the gold rim/s was because several vendors said they could fit in a 125g.

I agree that they can. With tangs I think side to side swimming room is probably most important.

You just can’t predict how they will act when they mature. There are several folks that have trios of tangs, but those are generally in larger systems.

In a tank that size I think you can do three tangs…but I just don’t know if I would do three of the same.

Just remember that vendors are there to sell the fish and some are more ethical than others.

It’s really just a judgement call on your part.

 

[jonelder68]

Dispar anthias, never had a problem, got incredible once some started to turn male and they still never fought

Agree! Dispars and ignitus stay smaller than lyretails. Still great color. I have 3 ignitus and 4 new dispars from Dr Reef

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Agree! Dispars and ignitus stay smaller than lyretails. Still great color. I have 3 ignitus and 4 new dispars from Dr Reef

I like the ignitus best, but they’ve been out of stock for the last month or so. At one point they had a couple, I went to order, and someone clicked before me

 

[jonelder68]

I like the ignitus best, but they’ve been out of stock for the last month or so. At one point they had a couple, I went to order, and someone clicked before me

Dr reef has a good source for dispar and lyretails only. Of 4 ignitus I got only one survived longer than 48 hours.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Dr reef has a good source for dispar and lyretails only. Of 4 ignitus I got only one survived longer than 48 hours.

That’s a rough percentage…

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I agree that they can. With tangs I think side to side swimming room is probably most important.

You just can’t predict how they will act when they mature. There are several folks that have trios of tangs, but those are generally in larger systems.

In a tank that size I think you can do three tangs…but I just don’t know if I would do three of the same.

Just remember that vendors are there to sell the fish and some are more ethical than others.

It’s really just a judgement call on your part.

Hijacking my own thread a moment, anyone else want to add their $0.02 on whether a trio of 2-3" gold rims would fit in a 150g? Almost everyone else is settled in, and there are very few small fish/inverts left to add, just corals. At this point everyone is pretty chill.