School of Anthias

[ChadmRoman]

Bought four ignatus anthias on order shipping to me at the end of the month.
Why does everyone recommend five?

 

[i cant think]

Bought four ignatus anthias on order shipping to me at the end of the month.
Why does everyone recommend five?

Anthias often kill eachother off (4 is a more even number so there will be 1v1 aggression, where as 5 is an odd number so the aggression is more dispersed)

 

[ChadmRoman]

Anthias often kill eachother off (4 is a more even number so there will be 1v1 aggression, where as 5 is an odd number so the aggression is more dispersed)

Thank you for the response so it’s not that I would have one male and three females it’s overall numbers.
I was thinking it was the number of females that needed an odd number so they wouldn’t kill each other for next in line type of deal.
I will add a fifth to my order and see how things go.

 

[X-37B]

I have had 2 for a year iny 120 with no issues but I also have 13 other fish.
One is now turning male.

 

[Haydn]

Because of the internet myth machine, someone, somewhere writes that anthias, chromis, damsels, etc, etc are better in odd numbers, the myth is endlessly copied and eventually people accept it as a truth.

As far as I am aware anthias can't count and it makes absolutely no different to the fish if you have one or one hundred and one or any number in between, odd or even.

Anthias often kill eachother off (4 is a more even number so there will be 1v1 aggression, where as 5 is an odd number so the aggression is more dispersed)

Another internet myth- there are over 200 species of anthias, some like Bartletts may fight when they change into males and there isn't enough females to go round. Others species, like Lyretails, use aggression to maintain a sexual hierarchy within the group and there may be casualties. Some, like Ignitus, are tolerant of other members of the same species. Some do not live in groups and will not tolerate others of the same species in the tank.

I have found casualties are more due to overcrowding and a lack of suitable sleeping space within the tank.

 

[i cant think]

Because of the internet myth machine, someone, somewhere writes that anthias, chromis, damsels, etc, etc are better in odd numbers, the myth is endlessly copied and eventually people accept it as a truth.

As far as I am aware anthias can't count and it makes absolutely no different to the fish if you have one or one hundred and one or any number in between, odd or even.


Another internet myth- there are over 200 species of anthias, some like Bartletts may fight when they change into males and there isn't enough females to go round. Others species, like Lyretails, use aggression to maintain a sexual hierarchy within the group and there may be casualties. Some, like Ignitus, are tolerant of other members of the same species. Some do not live in groups and will not tolerate others of the same species in the tank.

I have found casualties are more due to overcrowding and a lack of suitable sleeping space within the tank.

I’ve never been into Anthias, never kept them and never will (They’re too needy for me) but I was basing it off of wrasse & tangs which is what part of the hobby I come from

 

[ChadmRoman]

Because of the internet myth machine, someone, somewhere writes that anthias, chromis, damsels, etc, etc are better in odd numbers

where have I ran into this before, I wonder…:)

so key then is not overcrowding and plenty of sleeping spots. If I were to buy four anthias would they all sleep in the same space or each get its own little cave?

thank you for responding.

 

[Haydn]

where have I ran into this before, I wonder…:)

so key then is not overcrowding and plenty of sleeping spots. If I were to buy four anthias would they all sleep in the same space or each get its own little cave?

thank you for responding.

I have 30+ Ignitus (don't know if it's a odd or even number) along with 4 other anthias species and as the lights dim the Ignitus do group together but then each individual dives into their chosen overnight sleeping place, if there is already an Ignitus in there there will be a brief struggle where (I assume) the sub-dominant one is ejected. Eventually they all settle. Whereas my 12+ Bimacs group together in one cave to sleep, aggression seems to be suspended for the night.

Each species seems to have it's own strategy but I believe they all need a secure sleeping spot, I have about 150K of LR for them to hide in. I feel that modern minimalist decorated tanks may not give them the security they need. Which can lead to issues.

 

[JUSKIDN]

Ive had 15 Lyrietail Anthias in a 300 gallon that was 8 feet long. Plenty of room for them to play. They lasted a few years but then eventually died off. The mail seemed to bully all the females and nip at them. As the male died it was very cool to see the female morph into the male for the pack. BTW I had to have auto feeders at each end of the tank with multiple feedings daily.

 

[i cant think]

I have 30+ Ignitus (don't know if it's a odd or even number) along with 4 other anthias species and as the lights dim the Ignitus do group together but then each individual dives into their chosen overnight sleeping place, if there is already an Ignitus in there there will be a brief struggle where (I assume) the sub-dominant one is ejected. Eventually they all settle. Whereas my 12+ Bimacs group together in one cave to sleep, aggression seems to be suspended for the night.

Each species seems to have it's own strategy but I believe they all need a secure sleeping spot, I have about 150K of LR for them to hide in. I feel that modern minimalist decorated tanks may not give them the security they need. Which can lead to issues.

With Anthias, you always want 1 male, the rest being females, that’s all I know (more females will work out better though)

 

[Haydn]

With Anthias, you always want 1 male, the rest being females, that’s all I know (more females will work out better though)

Nature doesn't always work in that nice structured way. Bartletts for example will all eventually change to male and if there isn't sufficient females to go round they will fight, sometimes to the death. With my group of Ignitus I have 5 'full' male fish, fortunately, except for a bit of 'handbags' they are tolerant of each other. In my Bimac group there is only one male, but I have found once they change they tend to last about 10-12 months before they die and another one takes its place. In my previous tank I had 30 Lyretailed and I had 4 'full' breeding males, 6-7 'sub' nonbreeding males and the rest stayed females.

 

[i cant think]

Nature doesn't always work in that nice structured way. Bartletts for example will all eventually change to male and if there isn't sufficient females to go round they will fight, sometimes to the death. With my group of Ignitus I have 5 'full' male fish, fortunately, except for a bit of 'handbags' they are tolerant of each other. In my Bimac group there is only one male, but I have found once they change they tend to last about 10-12 months before they die and another one takes its place. In my previous tank I had 30 Lyretailed and I had 4 'full' breeding males, 6-7 'sub' nonbreeding males and the rest stayed females.

All I know has been said- Some of it may be myth however, as I stated before I’ve never been into Anthias