Let's Talk Anthias!

I am setting up a "small" grow tank. I will have a build thread in a couple of weeks. I want to add a trio of anthias. I know the "minimum" states large tanks for the most part. I will have a 40 breeder DT. I plan on ordering small 1" to 1.5", one male and two females.

What species should I get?

 

Im a big fan of lyretail anthias. Ive never had them personally but my lfs always has them in stock. They have a decent sized school in a display tank and the male always remembers who I am because Im there so much and follows me around the tank. Very smart and beautiful fish.

 

bump

 

I had a trio of Bartletts; they pretty much cured me of ever wanting anthias again.

While they're supposed to be an "easy" species, it never went that well for me.

I purchased three juveniles at the same time, but they all eventually went male on me and slowly picked each other off until there was just one left. Then the sole survivor stopped eating and passed about 3 days later, after I had him for a year or so.

If I had to have some again, I'd probably do Lyretails as well, or perhaps some bicolor.

There's many neat/colorful species that typically don't do half bad in closed system, but they don't do well in brightly lit tanks (ie - any SPS tank). Just an important point to consider when/if you start looking into the more obscure species.

 

I don't think 3 lyretail anthers would do well in a 40B, it is a lot for my 93 really. They get reasonably big and are
extremely active. Perhaps a smaller species.
Bartlett's, dispar or ignitus would probably be the best bet for a smaller tank, but they are still very active. I think 75g would still be about the min for a group.

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I understand the space requirements...looking for an active fish. There will be no rock in the 40B...all open. Frag racks 2" from the bottom. Looking into other options for fish. Possibly covering and adding some small "jumpers". Thanks for the advice.

 

sunset, stocky, square back, evansi, resplendent, red stripe, lyre tail, ignitus, huchtii, dispar, blood spot, bartletts, and tiger queen anthias.

 

Ah, agree here. Guess I missed that; I assumed the 40br would be temporary until your DT was ready.

 

I had some pink anthias, and they starve to death. My LFS said they have a very fast metabolism, their picky eaters, and you have to feed 2-3 times a day to keep them happy. I regret getting anthias. Should have just gotten another corris wrasse or something else.

 

Just to clarify, if you do go with anthias, you'll also need a top. Anthias are big time jumpers.


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