Bimac Anthias photos :)

[Anonymous]

Len mis-spoke. What he meant to say was that those fish are in his quarantine tank.
He's going to introduce them into his display in a few weeks.


I just wanted to clear that up.

:lol:

 

[bleedingthought]

Len, I have a couple of questions for you about anthias. Hope you don't mind. I'm considering getting a couple for my new tank.

I was thinking 3 or 4. Should I get just females and one of them will turn male? Or do they only turn after the male dies?

Also, I was looking at either dispar or lyretail anthias. Any recommendations for which one to go with? It'd be my first anthias set.

 

[Anonymous]

Having kept both, I would highly recommend the lyretail. My experience with the dispar was a dismal failure. I think it is because the male died. I had 1 male and 6 female. When the male died, the females all started fighting and killed each other. I believe one of the females may have already been trying to change to a male and their fighting was the demise of the male. I wound up catching 3 of them and giving them to the LFS. I got a red male lyre tail and 3 females. All are swimming nicely for a year or so.

 

[bleedingthought]

So, you're saying not to get all females?

 

[Anonymous]

Right. IMO, that would lead to instant fighting. I know of one other individula from another board that had the same experience with dispar's as I did. We both believe the females were fighting to establish dominance to become the male.

 

[bleedingthought]

Well, the fighting would be required in order for one to dominate and therefore become male, right? I just assumed that the fighting was normal and not that vicious. :?

 

[Len]

What Steve said Females are aggressive when no male is present. When a male is in the tank, the females will huddle up (and sometimes be "abused" by the male, presumably to keep them in check so one of them doesn't turn male). That said, I know people who tell me they've kept groups of one male with multiple females, and yet some of the females will still change to males. Anthias are very odd social creatures

 

[bleedingthought]

So 1 male and either 2 or 3 females.

And would you recommend the Lyretail over the Dispar also?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, the fighting would be required in order for one to dominate and therefore become male, right? I just assumed that the fighting was normal and not that vicious. :?

In the wild it is normal, but there are a lot more fish to quarrel with, and there is a lot of room to run. That makes the agression more diffuse and a lot less deadly.

 

[Len]

Lyretail is hardier. Both are fine though. And yes, get one male and at least two females so the male doesn't spend all his aggressive attention on one poor girl Anthias aren't friendly or cuddly fish

 

[naka]

Nice pictures Len.

 

[Len]

Thanks They're very cool fish.