Anthias

lietz06

Member
So I'm trying to put together my next order. I was thinking of adding like 2 or 3 female anthias and a male. What kind do you think i should order? Any experience with them? Thanks!
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
If this is for your 200g tank with the stock list you've listed, I'd suggest 3-4 evansi or bartlett's anthias. 1 male and 2-3 females. Personally I hope to do a small shoal of Bartletts one day.
 

btldreef

Moderator
I've had Purple Queens and Dispars, both were extremely hard to care for. Now I have Lyretails and I LOVE THEM.
It depends on the size of your tank, what else you have, etc.
 

lietz06

Member
I have a 200 gallon. The current stocklist is purple tang, yellow tang, blue hippo tang, spotted hawkfish, 2 ocellaris clownfish, & a midas blenny.
 

lietz06

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3168350
I've had Purple Queens and Dispars, both were extremely hard to care for. Now I have Lyretails and I LOVE THEM.
It depends on the size of your tank, what else you have, etc.
As far as you're lyetails...are they out a lot? I've been to a store and it seemed like the only fish that hid in his display tank were his anthias. I'm looking at the lyetails...bc they're pretty colorful and decently priced on this site.
 

cranberry

Active Member
Lyretail females are the number 1 hardy fish in my book. If those were acting too shy at the store... pass them by. Go back and recheck and see if they all still look okay. My lyretail would come sit in the bowl that I had mysis in. She would nip on me, not painfully, but when looking for food. We had her for 8 years. Males are not so hardy, IMO. We've had 2... or 3... I forget.
If that were my tank I would get at least three females to diffuse the picking of the male. The females pick amongst themselves as well.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Yes, my lyretails are always out. They're quickly becoming my favorite fish in the tank. All three of mine are females, I'm sure one will change to a male over time. I actually wanted 5, but the LFS only had three females. They're very social fish, the only time they're in the rock is when they're sleeping. Other than that, they're out and swimming together. If I walk by the tank, they'll follow me around until I feed them. I tried Dispars and Purple Queens, neither were as pretty or as hardy as my Lyretails and they hid all day. The only time I saw these guys hide at the fish store was when a lot of people were by the tank or when the guy was trying to catch them.
 

lietz06

Member
btldreef & cranberry: I've read that anthias need to be fed more. I was wondering with the lyetails...how often do you guys feed yours? I normally feed my tank once in the morning.
 

btldreef

Moderator
I feed mine twice a day, morning and night, mainly because that's the schedule that my other fish use. The first week I had them, they were only fed once a day. I had read that anthias were so hard to care for, feed, etc. My lyretails are so easy. I only feed live or frozen, no flake food, but they've accepted everything thus far.
 

lietz06

Member
Alright, well thanks:) I'm going to go ahead and get 3 females and male...making the order now! Thanks for the input..I really appreciate it!
 
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