Square Back Anthias

[gstar1]

I recently added 1 male & 1 yellow female square back anthias to my 125 gallon tank. I know it's best to have at lease 3 females but the store only had the pair (in the same display tank) in stock, so I purchased them and figured I could add additional females later plus the sales person at the store said it would not be a problem as long as the females are close in size. In the stores display tank the pair seemed to get along fine but when I put them in my 125 tank the males always chasses the female away. I think this is normal because of having only one female in the tank, my I correct on this? The other question I have is about a week letter I added another female to the tank thinking that with another female they would start to school. the new female is a light pink in color with slightly darker spots on the side fins and I noticed that the tail fin is slightly different then the tail fin on the male and original female? Is it possible that the pink female is not a square back but a different type of anthia? The two females get along ok but the male chases both of them away and seems to want nothing to do with either one of them? Currently all three fish swim seperately around the tank and I'm not getting the schooling effect I want? Help please!

[SDguy]

You won't get the "schooling" effect you are thinking of. Sounds like the third is either female changing to a male, or a completely different species. Female squarespots are orange, not pink.

[gstar1]

Thanks for your reply. Female square backs are yellow arn't they?
Should I return the 2nd female or other Anthias because if it turns to a male won't that cause problems with the large male all ready in the tank? Also, what is the minnium number of females needed before they school? Or did I misunderstand that Anthias are a school fish?

[mrwilson]

If you could post some pics, that would help. If the fish you believe to be a female squarespot is indeed yellow, you might actually have three different species.

[gstar1]

Ok, I'll post some pictures within the next day or too. Don't have any available right now.

[SDguy]

Female squarespots are easy to ID...yellow/orange color and two distinct lavender stripse starting at the eye and running across the lower belly:

http://fishpix.kahaku.go.jp/photos/NR0005/NR0005389AF.jpg

[ricks]

I added (2) females and (2) males. One of the females jumped out.

Now the (2) males swim together and the female stays with my (4)Bartlett, go figure...

Happy Reefing

[650-IS350]

I had 3. 1 male 2 females. The male chased both females all day. I got rid of the male, the dominant female turned into a male and spawned with the other female.

[gstar1]

OK, Am trying to add the pictures of my Anthias, but appearently the file size exceeds the limit? I resized the pictures as small as I can with the recommended program? I'm running widows Vista.
What am I missing here?

[Mr James]

by gstar1
I resized the pictures as small as I can with the recommended program? I'm running widows Vista.
What am I missing here?

I download my pictures to Photobucket and then post here.

[gstar1]

The pictures of my Anthias are posted on WWW.Photobucket.com
user name gstar1_01
password - crathco1

I am not sure if I have all Square Back Anthias. The large male with the pink square is obvious. Both the other females one yellow and the other a light pink were also sold as female square backs. Are they or some other type of Anthias. Again, the male chases both away and all three swim apart??

[SDguy]

You don't need to give us access to your account :)

Just post the "IMG Code" listed under each picture

[SDguy]

[photopost]

[SDguy]

In the meantime, here are your pics:

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w356/gstar1_01/DCAM0544.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w356/gstar1_01/DCAM0552.jpg

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w356/gstar1_01/DCAM0576.jpg

[SDguy]

The third isn't a squarespot, but a lyretail anthias...a male, at that.

[mrwilson]

What do you think about the middle pic - female squarespot, as the OP was informed? I don't see any lavender stripes...

[SDguy]

Its not a very good pic for ID purposes, but overall, yes, I'd say it looks like a female squarespot.

[gstar1]

Thanks for the help on identifying my Anthias. I will return the male lyretail. Are all female square backs yellow?

[SDguy]

Yes, they are.

[gstar1]

Thanks Peter I appreciate your help.
Steve

[SDguy]

np :)