Add Anthias Trio?

[jef4y]

I'm considering adding an anthias trio to my 60 cube but I'm not entirely sure if it's the right decision.

Current livestock=
mated pair false percs
green mandarin
lawnmower blenny

Assorted hermits, snails, 2 RBTA (since my one just split) and 1 flower anemone. Various softies & stonies, LPS, SPS.

My concern is the clowns. They are clearly the dominant fish in the tank and have basically starved out 2 other fish (mimic filefish & a blue dot goby) by 'beating them into submission' during feeding time.

I'm wondering if the anthias trio would (a) have enough space in the 60 cube and (b) be able to stand their ground and actually eat.

What says ye?

 

[coolsurf]

The Lyretail trio I have is one of the best additions I have ever made to any tank. They are not shy and eat like horses. I only feed them once a day skipping every 7th day. They are friendly and show off. Absolutely gorgeus and incredible fish.

 

[hud3339]

I am adding a trio once my 58 RR is done cycling

 

[crewdawg1981]

My dispars are are a favorite. In fact I think I'll eventually add to my harem.

 

[gnashty]

Every trio Ive ever introduced has dissappeared without a trace. Except 2, one male died from what looked like an infection, and another female went carpet surfing. The other 8 just dissappeared....

Different suppliers for 2 of the 3 sets. Im done with anthias...

 

[monte87ss]

I have a trio of dispars and they eat like crazy and my two maroons don't bother them. Except when they get to close to her nem she chases them away. The male maroon has been known to school with them.

 

[gixxer600]

I have a trio of lyretails in a 135 and they are becoming my favorite in the tank. i started with 3 females and now on is turning into a male. I say definently a must have in a tank

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Youll probably have intraspecies aggression far worse than interspecies aggression. By that, I mean that the anthias will probably fight each other, rather than the clowns fighting the anthias. Grouping anthias is a very complicated matter, especially if youre not willing to lose some. The are socially VERY complex, and people sometimes just assume they are a good shoaling species, for some reason.

 

[jef4y]

jmaneyapanda;655262 wrote: Youll probably have intraspecies aggression far worse than interspecies aggression. By that, I mean that the anthias will probably fight each other, rather than the clowns fighting the anthias. Grouping anthias is a very complicated matter, especially if youre not willing to lose some. The are socially VERY complex, and people sometimes just assume they are a good shoaling species, for some reason.

This is GOOD info, and that which I didn't know. You just see them offered up everywhere as a trio to the point that it's kind of an expected norm. More reading to do...

Thanks.

 

[jef4y]

I'd like to add a trio of something. Duo wouldn't be impossible, I've just always seen these things introduced/sold as trios..

If they're not a good grouping fish, why are they so commonly found as such? Just curious..

 

[crewdawg1981]

Because they shoal in the ocean.

I went with Dispars because I've seen them stay together in aquariums and saw many indicate the same when I was doing my research. I've been told that Carberrys and Bartletts do the same. I'll vouch that the Dispars do indeed stick together for the most part... cant speak to the others. Check my build thread, but they're definitely a favorite of mine now and a welcome addition to my tank. I picked up a bunch that were eating anything Rit threw in the tank.

Lyretails, at least all the ones in aquariums I've seen, do NOT stay grouped together.

 

[jef4y]

I should have specified that my interests are mostly around either Carberryi or Bartlett's

 

[crewdawg1981]

JeF4y;655484 wrote: I should have specified that my interests are mostly around either Carberryi or Bartlett's

Of the two... I like carberryis better. I like that they stay smaller and I like their color better. HOWEVER, they are supposedly difficult to get to eat frozen food (suppose the same coudl be said of Dispars).

I'd keep an eye on Liveaquaria though. When I was looking into which Anthias to get SDguy (I think that was his name) and snorvich both noted that LA would sometimes sell them at $25 a piece. You may want to see if any of the local LFSs get them in though... that way you can watch them eat (or not).