anthias selection

[fungia]

i want a school of something in my 100 gallon, i think anthias may be what i want to try. any recommendation on what kind? i want something beautiful of course and hardy and more potential to school.

 

[Anonymous]

Pseudanthias squamipinnis (lyretail anthias) is pretty widely regarded as the easiest to keep. It's easy to get eating on frozen mysis and Cyclop-eeze and adapts to captivity pretty readily. It should be out and about the day you add it to the tank. Scott Michael did a #reefs talk about Anthias that can be viewed here:
http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/s_ ... 30401.html

Just be aware that what you're forming in your tank is a shoal, not a school. If you're expecting the fish to all swim in the same direction and follow each other like they do in the wild that's probably not what will happen. There will be a lot of aggressive encounters; in addition, the fish tend to hang out and do their own thing in big aquariums.

 

[cyro]

are lyretail anthias must be 9 (1 male and 8 female) at least ?

 

[Anonymous]

I about 5 female and 1 male lyrtail anthais.

Two of the females died within a week or two. The male lived about 6 months, but never really fed with zest.

Once he died, one of the remaining females turned to male. It was cool watching it change colors.

They are very beautiful, especially for a cheap fish. I think mine were $17 at DFS.

Louey