Purchasing Anthias ?

SeahorseKeeper · Jan 19, 2015

When you are purchasing anthias, should you purchase in groups? If so, how many should you purchase? Also, I have heard that males do not seem to ship well and to order females. Is this true or just a myth?

JOKER · Jan 19, 2015

In my research I found it recommended to get trio if planned to keep more than one of same species. I got three females and seem to do ok, but like other fish there is a pecking order. I think one is trying hard to become male.

eatbreakfast · Jan 19, 2015

Get odd numbers, more is better than less. Most species males ship just fine, the larger bodied males such as pink square, bimaculatus, and fasciatus may have more trouble shipping, but species such as dispar, squamipinnis, and bartletts the males ship fine. When getting groups females should outnumber males by a wide margin.

Kworker · Jan 21, 2015

I have 12 Lyretail Anthias (11 females 1 Male) in a 180 gal. I would buy at least 3, 1 male 2 females. Odds vs Evens really does not make a difference.

ca1ore · Jan 21, 2015

Bought five bimacs for my tank, all females. Now I have three females, a sub male and an apex male. Probably ought to add a few more females. Swimming space becomes the issue though.

revhtree · Jan 21, 2015

Nice thread!

fragman4 · Jan 21, 2015

ca1ore said:
Bought five bimacs for my tank, all females. Now I have three females, a sub male and an apex male. Probably ought to add a few more females. Swimming space becomes the issue though.

Bimacs are my favorite. I had a hard time with them at first but finally got a trio that works. To the OP I would def go with a trio unless your tank is big and you are able to put in more.

mfinn · Jan 21, 2015

I was told to buy all females and let them decide which one was going to be male.

All Delight · Jan 22, 2015

mfinn said:
I was told to buy all females and let them decide which one was going to be male.

that's what I do

All Delight · Jan 22, 2015

SeahorseKeeper said:
When you are purchasing anthias, should you purchase in groups? If so, how many should you purchase? Also, I have heard that males do not seem to ship well and to order females. Is this true or just a myth?

I would get 10 if you can. I never heard about males or females shipping better or worse.

ca1ore · Jan 22, 2015

fragman4 said:
Bimacs are my favorite. I had a hard time with them at first but finally got a trio that works. To the OP I would def go with a trio unless your tank is big and you are able to put in more.

Mine as well! Not as twitchy as the squarespot and relatively easy to keep - if you have enough space an feed them a lot!