Bartlett Anthias, what does it eat?

[hsanchez]

Well my gf went out and bought this sucker last thursday. I have no idea what it eats. I've tried frozen mysis, brine, pellet, nori, and flake. Won't even look at it. I also tried garlic on some of the foods. He swins around all day but as soon as I move my hand over the tank he darts to the back and hides. I tried using a turkey basker to blow food his way, but he ignores it. He looks like he's getting really thin.
Need some help please!

 

[rev_toni]

They tend to like the meatier foods from what I remember...have you tried silversides? Squid? I am at a loss...

 

[lion_crazz]

this is the problem with anthias fish. Many do not want to eat at the beginning and many starve to death. Many may not like this, but I would go out and get some live brine or ghost shrimp to try to entice him to eat. You can put nutrients in the live brine, but mainly, the reason I recommend this is because it is better to have him eating SOMETHING, even if it is not nutritious, than NOTHING and starving to death.
Anthias need a variety in their diet, at least 4 or 5 things on a regular basis, and they like to be fed often in small quantities. I would recommend feeding the anthias a little bit of food 2 to 3 times per day.

 

[jon321]

I just got an anthias 4 weeks ago or so, took a few days to start feeding, I use live brine shooting it behind his rock. I also fed the rest of the tank flakes, frozen brine, and mysis 3 times a day throwing in extra. To conpensate I did an extra waterchange each week. Also, once you feed, RUN outta the room and watch from a safe distance. It took about 4 days or so to actually start eating, now the little guy even goes crazy for flakes!
Jon

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by Jon321
I just got an anthias 4 weeks ago or so, took a few days to start feeding, I use live brine shooting it behind his rock. I also fed the rest of the tank flakes, frozen brine, and mysis 3 times a day throwing in extra. To conpensate I did an extra waterchange each week. Also, once you feed, RUN outta the room and watch from a safe distance. It took about 4 days or so to actually start eating, now the little guy even goes crazy for flakes!
Jon
Hm, sounds familiar. :thinking: I am very glad that your anthias is doing well.

 

[dogstar]

Best thing to entice anthias IMO are tiny feeder gupies. Some LSWFS around here sell them, Also as said other LIVE food such as brine may work.

 

[lion_crazz]

Dogstar, are you sure that guppies are not bad for saltwater fish? I am not saying you are wrong, but I am honestly asking if you know because I don't remember if they are one of the freshwater feeders that are terribly high in fatty acids (the acids that cause fatty liver disease...). I know goldfish and rosy reds are, but I do not remember from the experiment/survey I read whether guppies wer too.

 

[mrdc]

I guess I have been lucky. My anthia eats anything that goes into the tank except for the seaweed strips which the blenny and tang take care of. I feed several diiferent types of frozen foods, flakes and pellets.

 

[dogstar]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Dogstar, are you sure that guppies are not bad for saltwater fish? I am not saying you are wrong, but I am honestly asking if you know because I don't remember if they are one of the freshwater feeders that are terribly high in fatty acids (the acids that cause fatty liver disease...). I know goldfish and rosy reds are, but I do not remember from the experiment/survey I read whether guppies wer too.
Dont know.
Im not suggesting that they be used as primary foods for anthias but only to get them to come out from hideing and to get them eating. My Squarespot hid when first introduced as normal and the guppies was the only thing that got him out and used to the tank. Afterwards I changed to live brine and then frozen mysis and then he would eat every thing else. I would feed them to it once a month as a treat and never notice any problems with them.
I will look into it. I had that fish for 4 years and traded it to LFS when I had to downsize my tank.

 

[dogstar]

For what its worth. This is from Bob's Q and A website....
I keep several marine fish, and occasionally I do feed them a mollie or a
guppy. Now, I know that feeder goldfish can cause "gut problems" but is this
also true for mollies and guppies?
<Not nearly as much... due to size and make-up (feeder goldfish are very fatty... and cartilaginous/hard to digest). If fed occasionally, should be no problem. Bob Fenner>

 

[lion_crazz]

Thanks a lot for that information! I have never been able to find anything from anyone reliable saying that guppies were not very harmful, like goldfish and rosy reds.