Nicest looking anthias

[gsiegel]

I am not talking about the standard Anthias that you would typically see but is there something out there that is different and even more colorful? For example, here is the flyer for the reef show coming up in Orlando. Is this actually a real anthias??����. I would like to add a few to my already existing tank, and not looking for the standard ones you would normally see but something incredibly eye popping.

[ClownNut]

yes,(ventralis) and as i understand it, they are deep water anthias, so unless you have a dim tank that dont keep corals, they wont do went.

[Bpb]

Fathead sunburst are the most attractive to my eye. While the blotched anthias are super expensive, I don’t find them all that nice looking


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[ca1ore]

I would steer clear of the ventralis. As noted, it's a deep water anthias that doesn't always adapt well to a bright tank and needs cooler temperatures (nominally 74 or less). It's also a smaller fish and not always comfortable with larger tankmates. Bimacs are my favorite 'non standard' anthias. Colorful, tolerant of aggressive tankmates, and a good eater. Not always the easiest fish to get through QT, but hardy once you do.

[gsiegel]

Thanks - already have 2 sunburst - 1 of them is about 3-4 inches long and also have a gorgeous pink square that is huge (I guess the equivalent of a supermale if it was a wrasse). Photos below.

I have never seen anything as in the ad I included in the original post for the Orlando Reef show and just made me wonder if I was missing something.

[d-man]

They can tolerate tank mates fine. They’ll hang out more around caves in lit tanks and adapt readily if, IF you can get them eating. I had 4 I got for someone 3 days ago and they ate on the third day of being in my holding tank right in front of us. Fed them Reef caviar which enticed one then the other three ventured over. They are going into a buddy’s tank that is an amazing sps tank that many people buy from online. He has no problem ever getting these guys to live. His last batch of 8 went to 6 I believe and has them a couple yrs until something got into his tank and wiped out 75% of his fish within a few days. Unfortunately the ventralis and lots of wrasses/tangs didn’t survive the episode

[Apercula]

Even with the basic Lyretail, there is significant differences in color based on region from which they were selected. Mine was from The Maldives, males from Tonga are more purple, and the common Indo males are much more plain.

[Tripod1404]

Imo nothing can beat purple queen anthias.

[ca1ore]

Never been much of a fan of the fathead (not a pseudoanthis like all/most of the rest); though that squamipinnis/square male looks great.

[Bent]

I like the good ole bimac if you ask me.

[Fredfish]

I've seen the Ventralis in a store once and they are stunning. Everything I've heard about them matches what Ca1ore wrote. They are also rather pricey.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder thought. I really like Ignatus and Dispars

[gsiegel]

I appreciate everyone's input - so in my original post with the flyer attached - is that a real anthias with all of those colors including the green on its fin that I have never seen before or just a crazy photo shopped ventralis?

[Tripod1404]

Originally Posted by gsiegel

I appreciate everyone's input - so in my original post with the flyer attached - is that a real anthias with all of those colors including the green on its fin that I have never seen before or just a crazy photo shopped ventralis?

That is the Polynesian and south japan variety. It doesn't look that green in-person under normal light. Fin is maybe slightly green, more like yellow with a hint of green. Rest of the clots and patters is the same as pictured. But under strong actinic lights, a camera makes the back of the fin look much more green than it is.

Not necessarily photoshopped, but more like color saturating a camera with actinic light, similar to how corals are made to look much better in pictures.


https://reefs.com/2016/05/09/updated...-biogeography/

[oldhead]

A little blurry but here is my purple queen


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[gsiegel]

Originally Posted by oldhead

A little blurry but here is my purple queen


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Thanks - have tried them in the past but have not had luck long term

[oldhead]

Originally Posted by gsiegel

Thanks - have tried them in the past but have not had luck long term

Yes, I'm a little worried. I bought two originally. The other one didn't make it through QT. This one eats like a pig so I have high hopes for it. It now eats the bigger pellets with the other fish, along with mysis and flake food.

[d-man]

Gsiegel- the ventralis from the coral sea have yellow fins, not green. That is saturated as stated.
There is also the Hawaiian variant which is also stunning but less available in the hobby especially now with the collection laws and large holed nets now.

[Frost_Hydra]

I saw these at the California Academy of Sciences. They didnt have a name yet and where just labed as a new species, I think they were found in some very deep water. I doubt you'll ever find one for sale, but I thought they looked super cool and unique.

[D-Nak]

Originally Posted by Frost_Hydra

I saw these at the California Academy of Sciences. They didnt have a name yet and where just labed as a new species, I think they were found in some very deep water. I doubt you'll ever find one for sale, but I thought they looked super cool and unique.

I think these are in the tank that's got a continuous live feed system on it.

This is something to keep in mind when considering the species of Anthias. Many need to eat throughout the day in order to be healthy, and unless you can feed them often, and get them eating prepared food, they'll slowly starve to death.