Need advice on Dispar Anthias QUICK!!!

[weekf]

I have asked my LFS to reserve 8 dispar anthias for me and I will need to collect them today as they will let them go if I can't pick them up today. I have been asking them to hold it for me because I am still not very sure if I am ready to do feeding twice a day.

But I have last few question to ask whoever got experience in keeping them. Is my 132g tank big enough for 8 of them? Are they hard to keep? I saw all of them already eating the other day so shouldn't have problem get them to eat. Now I am prepared to feed them 2 times a day with small amount of food each time is that enough?

What about compatibility? I currently have a YT, a bi-color blenny, a twin spot goby, a cleaner wrasse, an o.clown and 10 schooling chromis in there, will that be a problem adding the 8 anthias? Will they school together with the chromis? I like to see big group of fish just so cool...

Are they hardy? Do they need very good water quality? I am currently doing 10% PWC EVERY week is that good enough to continue doing that even if I now need to feed them twice a day?

Please any quick experience/comments/suggestions will be very much appreciated. Thanks!

#1 is that you should never add 8 fish to a tank at 1 time. That would probably put your tank into another cycle.

#2 is I think 8 is way to many.

Other than that I do not no much about them as far as care so others will chime in. I have never kept them yet.

[weekf]

Yeah thanks for pointing that out Mike. I never thought that would be a problem because I added 10 chromis at a time the very first time without any drama or cycle.

May be anthias have different bioloads and they are very demanding on food too.

I think I will just ditch them off my stocking list.

I only prefer to do feeding every other day too. 2 times a day, too much for me I think.

[afilter]

FWIW, I have a single anthias and I only once feed daily. Mine loves mysis shrimp, but will take flake as well.

Mine is a thread fine or red cheek(still have to ID as it was a odd ball) and is doing great after a month. I am going to try to find a mate for him. They are great middle swimmers and out all the time.

Agree 8 would be a bit much as your bio load would increase. Ideally is I were you I would only go with 3-4 (1 male and 2 females or 2 pr).

HTH,

[melosu58]

I have 5 of them and I still feed my tank every other day. On the off days they will nip on the seaweed selects a little bit that I leave out for my yellow tang. Except for the number 8 you should be OK.

[weekf]

oh? mel you only feed your dispar every other day? are you sure they will be alright? Do they get sick? I thought they said they need to be fed at least 2 times a day???

[melosu58]

I dont have the dispars as I have the Bartletts anthias and 1 pink square anthias. So far so good as I`m only feeding every other day. If the fish look bad I`ll carry them back. Not going to ruin my tank for anybody. Have not had algea in my tank for 7 yrs now and I`m not going to compromise that. Besides like I said they are eating some of the seaweed selects that I have in the tank for my yellow tang on the off days. They are looking pretty heathy so far. Judge for yourself.