Keeping anthias in a community?

[biologicalme]

Hey guys, I've always liked seeing peoples tanks with a little school of anthias. I've never kept them because I keep hearing you can't keep different species together or that if you keep anthias you need to keep a species specific tank. I just want to know what experiences you guys have with keeping them. I'd really like to get a little school of them so any tips or feedback on keeping them helps thanks 😊

 

[ItsTheNano]

I have 3 dispars & two lyretails with no problems. Try to get them in schools of 4 more, the more you get the less afraid they are.

 

[nrike]

I have 3 female lyretails and 1 male, 1 borbonius, 3 purple queen, 3 female ignitus and 1 male. Never had a problem with them fighting. I tried to feed them at least 3 times a day. Just make sure you have plenty of caves for them to hide.

 

[biologicalme]

Ooh ok, I'm thinking of adding lots of barnicles in between the live rock to give blennies gobies and shrimp a place to hide, I guess the anthias will benefit from it too

 

[rayray]

I had bartletts x10, sunburst x3, barbonus x2 at one point. The only fighting was between males of the same species.

 

[biologicalme]

So I guess I can have different species as long as they have a little community? Also, I hear they require lots of food, how true is that?

 

[rayray]

i know the book says they are planktivores and need small regular feedings, but IMO once they get acclimated they can eat 1x daily or every other day like all the other fish. IME what they need the most are other conspecifics; they dont like to be alone. Once the feel comfy cozy they start killing each other: males vs males, alpha female vs all other females.

 

[biologicalme]

i know the book says they are planktivores and need small regular feedings, but IMO once they get acclimated they can eat 1x daily or every other day like all the other fish. IME what they need the most are other conspecifics; they dont like to be alone. Once the feel comfy cozy they start killing each other: males vs males, alpha female vs all other females.

Oh no!!! So they eliminate each other until you're left with one?!

 

[o2manyfish]

I have kept the Dispar, Evansi, Carberryi, Tuka and Borbonius together without any issue. In my 400g my Dispar group ended with 2 males, but they didn't fight, they just each kept a group of females in caves on opposite sides of the tank.

For the past year I have had 6 Dispar with 2 males. Last month I added 9 more Dispar trying to get them to come out and about a little more.

It's helped a little, but they really seem to like to be cave dwellers.

There is no interaction between the Borbonius and any of the other types of Anthias.

Dave B