Purple Queen Anthias

[_sludgefactory]

Bought a pair of purple queen anthias. The LFS suggested them and said they've had them for a few weeks and that they were eating PE Mysis. Then I got home and read they are difficult to expert level. Now I'm kind of nervous. This LFS doesn't steer people wrong and wouldn't try to get me to buy something that would probably just die. Dragon face pipefish are supposed to be expert and mine has been alive and growing for almost 2 years now. Any thoughts? I haven't seen them eat anything yet, but they've only been in the tank since yesterday.

 

[_sludgefactory]

 

[reefaddictionrx]

Keep at them with your frozen options, small amounts 3-4 times/day is what I do when I'm introducing new anthias. If they were truly eating mysis at the LFS they should transition fine - I'm guessing they are just adjusting to the new environment. From your picture, your tank will make them feel right at home.

Enriched brine shrimp, mysis, cyclopeeze are all good first line choices. I've used live BBS a few times during quarantines to encourage others to eat that are reluctant.

 

[_sludgefactory]

I use Marine Cusine and Sera marine granules mostly, and I boost them with Selcon too. Plus I have a mud refugium with rock rubble and chaeto so I imagine they'll get some food from that also. Here's my tank.

 

[Eienna]

Sometimes a gentle but confident fish will help get them started eating in the quarantine, because they feel that this other fish must know it's safe. :)

 

[_sludgefactory]

Well all my fish are hogs. One of the anthias has been coming out and hanging out in the feeding group also so maybe he'll pick up what to do from them. No one in my tank is aggressive.

 

[Eienna]

Well all my fish are hogs. One of the anthias has been coming out and hanging out in the feeding group also so maybe he'll pick up what to do from them. No one in my tank is aggressive.

Oops, that may be a mistake. Letting them relax in quarantine and making sure they're issue-free before putting them in your tank is important with any fish you buy.

 

[_sludgefactory]

The LFS had them for several weeks in his tank and I know this store very well so I'm not really concerned with issues. I know I should quarantine I just don't have anything set up for that right now. All my fish a really mellow and friendly so I'm not worried there either. I haven't really ever run into something I couldn't keep alive.

 

[ethridge78]

Nice fish.

 

[Eienna]

Best of luck...

 

[P3FE]

They are awesome fish, little shy but nothing to worry about. I got a pair from my LFS about 3 months ago, he told me straight up that the biggest problem with them is to get them to feed, so I stock up with all kinds of different foods. At the beginning I was like a hawk making sure they were eating, I'm not going to lie to you it was hard to get them to eat in quarantine. My LFS stocks Dr Gs foods so I gave them a try, I got the Copedos, Rotifiers, LPS mix, Brine eggs without the shell, and live copedos. I over feed on the tank 3 times a day, it was a little struggle but I found out that they loved the live copedos, the brine eggs, and the Rotifiers. I continue to mix the foods I new they liked with small misys and now they eat just about everything I put in the tank. I guess the trick to them is to find the food they really like and mix everything else with it, eventually they get use to it. I can tell you that at the beginning it was kind of stressful but now it's very satisfying to have them thriving in my tank. Good luck!

 

[_sludgefactory]

Cool, that's sounds pretty positive. They show interest during feeding time and it looks like the take a bite here and there so hopefully after they settle in they'll start eating.

 

[_sludgefactory]

I'm pretty sure they're just nervous about being the new kids in town. They both found a little cave where they can watch everyone else and pop out occasionally. I'm optimistic.

 

[_sludgefactory]

So now I have Marine Cuisine, Emerald Entree, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp. So hopefully they'll find a chunk in there some where they'll like.

 

[_sludgefactory]

Score! They're eating a little!

 

[ethridge78]

Great to hear it.

 

[aquasport24]

Glad to hear, just don't add any Chromis to the mix.Mine stupid Chromis wont leave my Purple alone, its very annoying.

 

[P3FE]

Awesome!!

 

[_sludgefactory]

Glad to hear, just don't add any Chromis to the mix.Mine stupid Chromis wont leave my Purple alone, its very annoying.

I guess you didn't see my pic up there. lol

Also, I turned the pumps back on to simulate the food being alive and both of the anthias went nuts and started hunting and scarfing down food.

 

[aquasport24]

My bad, did not have my glasses on...lol.. Keep an eye on those Chromises.