Lyretail anthias

[Ghost1]

Halloooooo
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these fish, their maximum size, reef compatibility etc..
I have a 90 gal that I may begin setting up as a reef in about 5-6 months time and was thinking about doing a small school of lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) 1 male and 5-6 females as the main fish in the tank with a few smaller fish (gobies/blennies) in the reef..
I haven't decided on the lighting I am going to use yet so not sure of the corals/anemones that I may try out in the tank as well, but I will have some mushrooms and polyps at the very least..
I'm a big fan of inverts so would like to have a number of shrimp, crabs, urchins, stars etc.. as well..
The max size I've seen listed for them is 5", so I was wondering how they would be with some of the mid sized shrimps or if the shrimps would just end up being an expensive meal for them.
Any advice or experiences would be welcome.
Thanks
Ghost

 

[npaden]

I don't think a 90 gallon tank is big enough for a school of anthias.

Check out Scott Michael did a talk on #reefs last year on them and it is in the library.

Check out http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/s_ ... 30401.html

FWIW, Nathan

 

[reefland]

I just got a few of these myself for my 180 gallon tank. A 90 might be a bit small for more than one. Mine ignored many of the common plankton like frozen foods on the market. So I took a bunch of cocktail shrimp and put them into the blender with some tank water and chopped up a fine slurry. They love this and eat it with gusto.

 

[MandarinFish]

I have a big male named Pink Floyd who is simply gorgeous.

He is social, harasses no other fish nor corals, and readily eats plankton and other frozen foods (I like the Hikari plankton because it is vitamin enriched).

He is in a 135 gallon though, with no other Anthias.

I love Anthias for being reef safe, community safe fish that are omnivores (mostly planktonivores).

MUCH hardier than Tangs.

Not tank raised or bred though, that's my main concern.

If you can't get 8 females, which you shouldn't in a 90 it sounds like, only get 1 male OR female.

If you are *serious* about a school of these, get a bigger tank when you can. My 135 is 95% dedicated to Mandarin fish. I do a lot of work and make a lot of decisions for dragonets, which I won't even get for another year and a half.

Good luck.