Blotched Anthias in a 90 gallon?

[Spork3245]

Single, not a trio. Would a 90 gallon be too small? I see 125 often as the recommendation, but I also notice that's usually in regards to a trio with most anthias species and singly can be kept in much smaller.
Thoughts?

[mark54321]

Single in 90 will be fine, they grow to decent size max 6 in., but in aquariums I never saw one bigger then 4in. What other fish do you have in your tank? Blotched ( borbonius) anthias get pretty aggressive as they grow, my friend had to get rid of one, after it killed couple small wrasses and was bullying other fish.

[Spork3245]

Single in 90 will be fine, they grow to decent size max 6 in., but in aquariums I never saw one bigger then 4in. What other fish do you have in your tank? Blotched ( borbonius) anthias get pretty aggressive as they grow, my friend had to get rid of one, after it killed couple small wrasses and was bullying other fish.

Oh wow, I didn't realize they got aggressive like that with non-anthias species! I have two wrasses, a one-spot foxface, a diamond goby, two small ocellaris clowns and a neon cleaner goby. I guess I'll pass on the blotched anthias as I'd rather not bring something aggressive into my tank. Even my two wrasses (royal flasher and rose band fairy) mostly get along and even swim together often. The fairy (dominant) only gives a quick "I'm the boss" chase a couple times per day (just a single quick charge that ends immediately with no actual chasing).

[ThRoewer]

These are Anthias only by name, in everything else they are much closer to groupers: they will eat what they can fit into their mouth. Watch your shrimp and small fish!

[Spork3245]

These are Anthias only by name, in everything else they are much closer to groupers: they will eat what they can fit into their mouth. Watch your shrimp and small fish!

So would a fathead sunburst anthias be better, then? I don't know why LA doesn't have any warnings about the blotched anthias eating shrimp/small fish like they do on other species who'll do that :hmm3:

[mark54321]

So would a fathead sunburst anthias be better, then? I don't know why LA doesn't have any warnings about the blotched anthias eating shrimp/small fish like they do on other species who'll do that :hmm3:
That was going to be my recommendation, :) , sunburst anthias are deepwater, peaceful fish, they don't need a lot of room, but need plenty of hiding places and peaceful tank. If you can dim your lights for few days after you get one, it would help this fish to acclimate better.

[Spork3245]

That was going to be my recommendation, :) , sunburst anthias are deepwater, peaceful fish, they don't need a lot of room, but need plenty of hiding places and peaceful tank. If you can dim your lights for few days after you get one, it would help this fish to acclimate better.

I have reefbreeder photons and it scales up and down throughout the day. It starts at 10% for each channel and slowly climbs to around 40% (max) then back down. Do you think he'll be fine or should I run at like 20% for the first couple of days?

[mark54321]

I would keep it down to 20% for few days if you don't have high light demanding corals. It will be easier for fish, as it comes from dim light in nature. It will easily acclimate to higher light with some time.

[Spork3245]

I would keep it down to 20% for few days if you don't have high light demanding corals. It will be easier for fish, as it comes from dim light in nature. It will easily acclimate to higher light with some time.


I have 4 sps in my tank but I imagine they'll be okay for 3-4 days. Out of curiosity, if I purchased one from divers den would it already be acclimated to higher light since they'd have had it for several weeks?

[mark54321]

If you get it from DD , then I wouldn't worry about it. Yes, they keep and condition fish for few weeks before sale. :)