Purple queen anthias?
- Thread starter obarrera
- Start date
iwantacans
Member
keep more than 1 female preferably 4-5 and 1 male... these need to be fed 2-3 times daily.. keep with other peaceful tnk mates.... need a mature tank that is very stable.... but a BEAUTIFUL FISH
iwantacans
Member
i have experiance with anthias yes
kimkissyfish
Member
I think he just answered that question..
I think they would do well in a school? Is that correct? Some fish need to be kept alone where others do well in schools and should NOT be kept alone.,
If you like an anthias, the PINK SQUARE ANTHIAS as a beautiful fish too. They can get about 5-6 inches. I had one for about 2 years, I was told they are not a beginner fish, they need excellent water quality too. He's one of the only fish I lost and he was my favorite. The PS anthias hangs out in the middle of the tank and swims around in front of the glass. Very Pretty and MAY work in a 40 gallon. Remember that he will get bigger, So concider his full grown size when stocking your tank.
Good Luck, Hope this helps, Kim
Heres a PIC of my Pink Square hanging out....
I think they would do well in a school? Is that correct? Some fish need to be kept alone where others do well in schools and should NOT be kept alone.,
If you like an anthias, the PINK SQUARE ANTHIAS as a beautiful fish too. They can get about 5-6 inches. I had one for about 2 years, I was told they are not a beginner fish, they need excellent water quality too. He's one of the only fish I lost and he was my favorite. The PS anthias hangs out in the middle of the tank and swims around in front of the glass. Very Pretty and MAY work in a 40 gallon. Remember that he will get bigger, So concider his full grown size when stocking your tank.
Good Luck, Hope this helps, Kim
Heres a PIC of my Pink Square hanging out....
slowest is fastest
Member
Pseudanthias pascalus and Pseudanthias tuka (both sold as purple queen anthias) have been the most challenging fish I have ever kept. They require a religious feeding schedule 3-5 times per day.
I am a sucker for taking tough to keep fish from my LFS that come in mistakenly or in place of something else. I had initially ordered Bartlett and Lyretail anthias but the wholesaler kindly sent purple queens (three of them) instead.
So while not obliged to take them I knew they would die if I didn’t, as they looked really bad. Their bellies were very sunken and one was pretty lethargic. The one did die the next day but happily the other two made it and have survived, grown and changed color.
So… would I ever intentionally buy one again…NO! These fish are extremely tough to keep and get to eat. At first I was hatching baby brine shrimp for them every day. Then slowly I weaned them onto cyclopeeze then frozen brine (that they still eat) To do this I had to feed an enormous amount of food, 5 times a day in the beginning and still three times a day now. Most anthias have very high metabolisms, which makes the frequent feedings a must. The weaning process seemed to speed up when I introduced a Bartlett anthias who readily accepted the frozen foods. I guess it was monkey see monkey do because the queens finally started to eat the cyclopeeze (yeah! No more hatching brine shrimp) Now I just throw in the food and they eat like pigs. On a side note there are a few articles that discuss the downsides to heavily feeding an anthias once or twice a day verses constant or multiple feedings. Oversimplified large single feedings creates a feast and famine situation that is unhealthy for the fish.
So I got the fish, got them eating, they have grown and for all intents and purposes have done very well. There are however several other problem that keeping the fish have created.
What do you think happened to all that uneaten food in the tank? You guessed it; it caused a huge water quality issue. Between the phosphates in the food and the extra nutrients from the uneaten food I had an enormous algae outbreak. Heavy skimming, more frequent and larger water changes, carbon, phosphate remover and my refugium couldn’t keep up. If I was going to keep the queens I was going to, had to, still have to put up with some algae. I picked a type that I could live with and let it “out compete” everything else. I have found a balance that isn’t too offensive to the eye (macros to coral/fish) but I would like to set up a species tank for them at some point.
This is the short version. Believe me it is a lot of work and there are many other beautiful purple fish that require a lot less work. I would recommend against getting one. Because of the special care and poor shipping records I think this is one fish that should be left in the ocean. JMO. If you want to keep anthias, Bartletts are much hardier and IME readily accept frozen/prepared foods.
I will try to answer any specific you might have.
SiF
PS While I didn’t mention tank size, like all anthias large mature reefs with a well-established pod population is IMO is a must.
I am a sucker for taking tough to keep fish from my LFS that come in mistakenly or in place of something else. I had initially ordered Bartlett and Lyretail anthias but the wholesaler kindly sent purple queens (three of them) instead.
So while not obliged to take them I knew they would die if I didn’t, as they looked really bad. Their bellies were very sunken and one was pretty lethargic. The one did die the next day but happily the other two made it and have survived, grown and changed color.
So… would I ever intentionally buy one again…NO! These fish are extremely tough to keep and get to eat. At first I was hatching baby brine shrimp for them every day. Then slowly I weaned them onto cyclopeeze then frozen brine (that they still eat) To do this I had to feed an enormous amount of food, 5 times a day in the beginning and still three times a day now. Most anthias have very high metabolisms, which makes the frequent feedings a must. The weaning process seemed to speed up when I introduced a Bartlett anthias who readily accepted the frozen foods. I guess it was monkey see monkey do because the queens finally started to eat the cyclopeeze (yeah! No more hatching brine shrimp) Now I just throw in the food and they eat like pigs. On a side note there are a few articles that discuss the downsides to heavily feeding an anthias once or twice a day verses constant or multiple feedings. Oversimplified large single feedings creates a feast and famine situation that is unhealthy for the fish.
So I got the fish, got them eating, they have grown and for all intents and purposes have done very well. There are however several other problem that keeping the fish have created.
What do you think happened to all that uneaten food in the tank? You guessed it; it caused a huge water quality issue. Between the phosphates in the food and the extra nutrients from the uneaten food I had an enormous algae outbreak. Heavy skimming, more frequent and larger water changes, carbon, phosphate remover and my refugium couldn’t keep up. If I was going to keep the queens I was going to, had to, still have to put up with some algae. I picked a type that I could live with and let it “out compete” everything else. I have found a balance that isn’t too offensive to the eye (macros to coral/fish) but I would like to set up a species tank for them at some point.
This is the short version. Believe me it is a lot of work and there are many other beautiful purple fish that require a lot less work. I would recommend against getting one. Because of the special care and poor shipping records I think this is one fish that should be left in the ocean. JMO. If you want to keep anthias, Bartletts are much hardier and IME readily accept frozen/prepared foods.
I will try to answer any specific you might have.
SiF
PS While I didn’t mention tank size, like all anthias large mature reefs with a well-established pod population is IMO is a must.
iwantacans
Member
Originally posted by obarrera
Would one purple queen anthias be ok in a 40g (it's a regular tank)with about 80 lbs of live rock and a 20g sump/regium?(if kept with piecefull fish)
nope to small of tank
slowest is fastest
Member
I think a 40 gallon breeder tank (36x18x12) or a 40 gallon long (48x13x16) with a 20 gallon sump is large enough for an anthias only tank. I think that if you held the fish load to just the anthias (one or two ) and at most 1 or two smaller gobies(ie clown gobies) you would be also be fine.
JMO
SiF
JMO
SiF
obarrera
Member
Wow I hate to hear I can't keep a fish when it's so beautiful.
Im going to try to forget about it.lol
Anyway,if I have 1 anthias in a 40g then I wouldn't be able to keep like 5 more fish?
I have 3 fish in my 10g,I don't understand why I wouldn't be able to keep an anthias and a few more fish in a 40g.
Thanks for the info.
I have a question about another fish,the Blue Jaw Tilefish (hiplolatius starki)
Is it hard to keep as well?
Im going to try to forget about it.lol
Anyway,if I have 1 anthias in a 40g then I wouldn't be able to keep like 5 more fish?
I have 3 fish in my 10g,I don't understand why I wouldn't be able to keep an anthias and a few more fish in a 40g.
Thanks for the info.
I have a question about another fish,the Blue Jaw Tilefish (hiplolatius starki)
Is it hard to keep as well?
slowest is fastest
Member
I didn't say you can't keep them, I just wouldn't recommend it. You have to decide if you and your tank(s) are ready for one.
JMO but it is hard enough to get the purple queen anthias to eat without having it compete for food with other more aggressive feeders. As I said a few clown gobies or something equally small would probably be fine but 5 medium sized fish IMO is two many. Do a search on stocking levels and you will find a broad range of opinions. You'll have to decide.
As for the tile fish...another of my favorites(although I like the flashing tile (Hoplolatilus Chlupatyi) better...the best ) worse to get to eat and much more suseptable to fluctuations in water conditions especially temperature(needs cooler water much like a catalina gobie). Another definate no no unless you are dedicated to its specialized care. Again JMO/E. I know I mentioned gobies but tile gobies should have been excluded...
Sorry not much of a confidence/encouragement speech but both of those fish are tough.
SiF
JMO but it is hard enough to get the purple queen anthias to eat without having it compete for food with other more aggressive feeders. As I said a few clown gobies or something equally small would probably be fine but 5 medium sized fish IMO is two many. Do a search on stocking levels and you will find a broad range of opinions. You'll have to decide.
As for the tile fish...another of my favorites
(although I like the flashing tile (Hoplolatilus Chlupatyi) better...the best ) worse to get to eat and much more suseptable to fluctuations in water conditions especially temperature(needs cooler water much like a catalina gobie). Another definate no no unless you are dedicated to its specialized care. Again JMO/E. I know I mentioned gobies but tile gobies should have been excluded...Sorry not much of a confidence/encouragement speech but both of those fish are tough.
SiF
obarrera
Member
How bout a purple tilefish goby?
I want a colorful fish that swims most of the time.
In other words I want a beautiful fish that would entertain me,that's why I wanted the purple queen cause they say they love to swim(and it's beautiful).
KimKissyFish,that is a nice fish but not what im looking for.
I want a colorful fish that swims most of the time.
In other words I want a beautiful fish that would entertain me,that's why I wanted the purple queen cause they say they love to swim(and it's beautiful).
KimKissyFish,that is a nice fish but not what im looking for.
slowest is fastest
Member
Originally posted by obarrera
How bout a purple tilefish goby?
Originally posted by slowest is fastest
I know I mentioned gobies but tile gobies should have been excluded...
SiF
PS for an active swimmer maybe something like Fridmani Pseudochromis?
obarrera
Member
Originally posted by slowest is fastest
PS for an active swimmer maybe something like Fridmani Pseudochromis?
That is a very nice fish but other Pseudochromis eat shrimps and I don't want to take any riscs with this one.Is just like my sixline wrasse,it's not suppose to kill shrimps and he killed 3 of them that were in my tank.=/
Oh and it's semi aggrasive.:thinking:
kimkissyfish
Member
Obarrera,
Sounds like your trying too hard.. I feel your frustrarion. When I started out in this hobby, I wanted a certain fish, got everything set up and then found out I couldnt have it. URGH!!
Do you have a Large "specialty" fish store near you? YOu could go there the day AFTER shipment day (so they are fully stocked) and watch them. When you find one you are interested in, see what it's in the tank with and ask a lot of questions. I would even ask the SAME question to 2 different employees or better yet HERE!!!
Also, They should have books there as well, open one up IN FRONT of the fish you are looking at and make your decision
BUT.. Do not buy him the day after the store get's it.. I would say, if you really find a fish you LOVE,and will be compatible with what type of fish you wantto keep, put a deposit on THAT fish to make sure he is healthy and eating... Go back everyday for 3 days, If all is good..
HEALTH, COMPATAIBLE, EATING...... Take your new Baby HOME!!
Also, something to think about too.. In the store the fish are put in tanks without lots of rockwork etc... so they can catch them for ya...((so they ARE gonna swim around in front of you) Your tank may have lots of rock work for him to swim under, through and over.. lOL..
So reading up and or asking here about "if he will swim and entertain you" from people who have them, is the BEST IDEA!
Hope this helps, we have all been there and are more than willing and happy to help you out.
Thanking you kindly, Kim :nervous:
Sounds like your trying too hard.. I feel your frustrarion. When I started out in this hobby, I wanted a certain fish, got everything set up and then found out I couldnt have it. URGH!!
Do you have a Large "specialty" fish store near you? YOu could go there the day AFTER shipment day (so they are fully stocked) and watch them. When you find one you are interested in, see what it's in the tank with and ask a lot of questions. I would even ask the SAME question to 2 different employees or better yet HERE!!!
Also, They should have books there as well, open one up IN FRONT of the fish you are looking at and make your decision
BUT.. Do not buy him the day after the store get's it.. I would say, if you really find a fish you LOVE,and will be compatible with what type of fish you wantto keep, put a deposit on THAT fish to make sure he is healthy and eating... Go back everyday for 3 days, If all is good..
HEALTH, COMPATAIBLE, EATING...... Take your new Baby HOME!!
Also, something to think about too.. In the store the fish are put in tanks without lots of rockwork etc... so they can catch them for ya...((so they ARE gonna swim around in front of you) Your tank may have lots of rock work for him to swim under, through and over.. lOL..
So reading up and or asking here about "if he will swim and entertain you" from people who have them, is the BEST IDEA!
Hope this helps, we have all been there and are more than willing and happy to help you out.
Thanking you kindly, Kim :nervous:
slowest is fastest
Member
I agree with Kim and here is another suggestion. Start a new thread asking for opinions and expierences from other board members. Be sure to include your tank set-up (or proposed set-up) and then list what you want out of the fish ie color, size, swimming habits, price range etc.
I bet you will get a lot of suggestions and from those you could pick several more to research.
FWIW I personally think you very responsible for doing the work BEFORE YOU BUY it can be frustrating but in the long run I think you will be much happier.
Good Luck
SiF
PS Difficult rarely means impossible if you are willing to put forth the effort anything can be considered and tried JMO
I bet you will get a lot of suggestions and from those you could pick several more to research.
FWIW I personally think you very responsible for doing the work BEFORE YOU BUY it can be frustrating but in the long run I think you will be much happier.
Good Luck
SiF
PS Difficult rarely means impossible if you are willing to put forth the effort anything can be considered and tried JMO
obarrera
Member
Thanks for your help,both of you.
I just started another thread.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...hreadid=150073
I just started another thread.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...hreadid=150073