Tank Journal Archive

[daveH]

My 5 anthias are now down to 4. One of them didn't seem to want to play the game from the start and rarely came out and never ate. I have another one now that is getting really skinny but the other 3 are fine - even though they are as dumb as dog shit when it comes to food time. I have no problem feeding them the 3 to 4 times a day as they apparently require.
But if only they would eat the Mysis when it's in front of them, they'll have a piece or two and then swim amongst it, meanwhile the tangs are ripping into it and getting as fat as mud.
They have seemed to show interested in some bits that fly off the Nori when the tangs are having a feeding frenzy - it would be nice if they ate a bit more of that.
They don't show any interest in any of the pellet food on offer which I wish they would.
So my question is what if any pellet food has anyone's anthias taken a liking to? And will they actually change over to pellet food or am I going to end up with skinny anthias and fat tangs.

 

[Sam Parker]

Could be a few things. Maybe scared of tangs? But I did read somewhere that the reason for needing to feed anthias multiple times a day was due to the fact that they can only hold so much in their stomach. Could be totally on wrong track though...

 

[slin1977]

Feed brine shrimp.

 

[brendan88]

We are using the trpocial brand pellet for our ventralis but the smallest granular in their range.

With feeding we target fed at start with a tube.pumps off and got the other fish at opposite end of tank. We found the anthia learnt pumps off meant feed time.

I would add more variety to your feed. Our mix at the start was brine, mysis, plankton, cyclops, fish eggs and live brine.

@Wrangy might be able to confirm worth trying feeding frenzy if your LFS sells it

 

[Wrangy]

Food size is the biggest factor in anthias feeding :) live baby brine will have them go crazy!

The other thing is varied diet will give you the best success, something high in protein and fat will help chub them up! Lol
As Brendan has mentioned try and some Aqua Tech Co. foods for the tank, they're the shit and have some fantastic sizes! Naups, Marine Frenzy and some selco boost would work really well in your case!
These guys :)

 

[ReeferRob]

Try something smaller, they like smaller foods and yes, they do have very tiny stomachs. When I hold them for a local customer, I use very small foods to get them started, brine shrimp is good, especially if its been frozen properly.

 

[brendan88]

My 5 anthias are now down to 4. One of them didn't seem to want to play the game from the start and rarely came out and never ate. I have another one now that is getting really skinny but the other 3 are fine - even though they are as dumb as dog shit when it comes to food time. I have no problem feeding them the 3 to 4 times a day as they apparently require.
But if only they would eat the Mysis when it's in front of them, they'll have a piece or two and then swim amongst it, meanwhile the tangs are ripping into it and getting as fat as mud.
They have seemed to show interested in some bits that fly off the Nori when the tangs are having a feeding frenzy - it would be nice if they ate a bit more of that.
They don't show any interest in any of the pellet food on offer which I wish they would.
So my question is what if any pellet food has anyone's anthias taken a liking to? And will they actually change over to pellet food or am I going to end up with skinny anthias and fat tangs.

What anthia are they??

 

[Wazza22]

Tagging along with interest, just added 5 to a QT and seem to have them feeding on minced prawn with garlic but dont want to be concocting that up every night. Already had grumblings from the wife. My Lyretails didn't seem to accept Brine shrimp but that was on Sunday when i first got them. Will give it another go tomorrow maybe

 

[daveH]

What anthia are they??

Despair anthias

 

[Wazza22]

Despair anthias

Or Dispar?
Think we know what you mean :p pretty little fish

 

[ReeferRob]

If the little orange reef copepods are available there, I've had good success with those.

 

[daveH]

Or Dispar?
Think we know what you mean :p pretty little fish

Bloody autocorrect!!! Although that's probably more accurate. Haha

 

[slin1977]

Bloody autocorrect!!! Although that's probably more accurate. Haha

Dispar get onto pellets quickly from my experience. Keep at it mate.

 

[MagicJ]

You could also try lobster eggs ...

 

[slin1977]

You could also try lobster eggs ...

+1 good stuff the lobster egg

 

[Sam Parker]

If you can find them anymore....

 

[Col81]

You could also try lobster eggs ...

Wish I could still get hold of lobster eggs. I have been told from all the local LFS that they can no longer get hold of them because ocean nutrition has stopped that line of marine food.....down to my last two cubes

 

[MagicJ]

Wish I could still get hold of lobster eggs. I have been told from all the local LFS that they can no longer get hold of them because ocean nutrition has stopped that line of marine food.....down to my last two cubes

Bugger - I have around 3/4 of a pack left - if I hold on to them for a bit longer I might be able to retire :D

 

[slin1977]

I got 1.5 packets left.
Could try flying fish roe , cheap too.

 

[ReeferRob]

Any sort of eggs should work, just be VERY careful about freshness. Fats spoil rapidly. They're still available here from 3 different sources.