What to feed anthias

yraveh · 12/09/2017, 06:33 PM

Good evening.

I have - Lyretail, Squareback and Resplendent Anthias.

I need an advice from experiencedreefer, what dry (for automatic feeder) and frozen food do they eat. So far they mainly eat mysis shrips. maybe flakes.

ca1ore · 12/09/2017, 09:47 PM

Lyretail should take to pellets and perhaps flakes; square and resplendent probably won't (mine never have).

Tripod1404 · 12/10/2017, 12:21 AM

My lyretails and barlets eat flakes. Pictilis (a large anthias like squareback) sometimes eat flakes but mostly prefer mysis.

In your case, those are 3 anthias species that have significant size difference. With that much of size difference, it is hard to find a single type of food all 3 would eat.

Lyretails and resplendent might eat calan-eeze. For squareback, maybe freeze dried mysis. You can try mixing these two food and use a auto-feeder. But the issue is, these foods would not readily sink. They will just float over the water and will be removed by the overflow. You can try to autofeed to the return pump section of the sump. That way the food will be blown to the tank when it sinks. Or you can use a feeding ring.

Also why do you need an autofeeder. You can feed 3 times a day (even 2 after anthias get used to eating bigger meals) and that would be sufficient. I used to feed the tank in the morning before I leave for work, one time more after I arrive and one more time 10-15 mins before the light turn off. After 3 months or so, I reduced two feedings in the evenings to one and anthias is okay with it. Pictilis actually only eats once a day (which is relatively okay for larger anthias species).

monkeysee1 · 12/10/2017, 07:07 AM

Mine love Rod's Food, mysis, caviar and Mega Marine Angel; they don't touch pellets or flakes.

ROB2005 · 12/10/2017, 11:15 AM

My lyretail anthias goes crazy over Larry's Food. When he knows its feeding time, he waits in his favorite corner.

yraveh · 12/10/2017, 07:47 PM

not sure whats Larry's food is.

WVfishguy · 12/10/2017, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROB2005

My lyretail anthias goes crazy over Larry's Food. When he knows its feeding time, he waits in his favorite corner.

If you're talking about LRS "Reef Frenzy etc" I can see why the critter goes crazy.

I've been using that stuff for while, and that's the best fish food I've seen.

I used to make my own food for fish, but LRS is a helluva lot better than anything I ever made.

C.Eymann · 12/11/2017, 01:06 PM

I like taking blocks of PE mysis to a cheese grater to get it down to acceptable size for Anthias, seems the more picky species will take it more readily, also like using cyclops and fish eggs.
As far as getting Anthias to take pellets and flakes, like mentioned some species will take to dry food easier than others, offering a mix of both frozen and dry starting off seems to help them transition easier.

12/09/2017, 06:33 PM	#1
yraveh Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Miami Beach Posts: 562	What to feed anthias Good evening. I have - Lyretail, Squareback and Resplendent Anthias. I need an advice from experiencedreefer, what dry (for automatic feeder) and frozen food do they eat. So far they mainly eat mysis shrips. maybe flakes. __________________ Thank You! Current Tank Info: 120g

12/09/2017, 09:47 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Lyretail should take to pellets and perhaps flakes; square and resplendent probably won't (mine never have). __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

12/10/2017, 12:21 AM	#3
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	My lyretails and barlets eat flakes. Pictilis (a large anthias like squareback) sometimes eat flakes but mostly prefer mysis. In your case, those are 3 anthias species that have significant size difference. With that much of size difference, it is hard to find a single type of food all 3 would eat. Lyretails and resplendent might eat calan-eeze. For squareback, maybe freeze dried mysis. You can try mixing these two food and use a auto-feeder. But the issue is, these foods would not readily sink. They will just float over the water and will be removed by the overflow. You can try to autofeed to the return pump section of the sump. That way the food will be blown to the tank when it sinks. Or you can use a feeding ring. Also why do you need an autofeeder. You can feed 3 times a day (even 2 after anthias get used to eating bigger meals) and that would be sufficient. I used to feed the tank in the morning before I leave for work, one time more after I arrive and one more time 10-15 mins before the light turn off. After 3 months or so, I reduced two feedings in the evenings to one and anthias is okay with it. Pictilis actually only eats once a day (which is relatively okay for larger anthias species). Last edited by Tripod1404; 12/10/2017 at 12:27 AM.

12/10/2017, 07:07 AM	#4
monkeysee1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: MERRIMACK NH Posts: 423	Mine love Rod's Food, mysis, caviar and Mega Marine Angel; they don't touch pellets or flakes. __________________ Your "fair share" is not in my wallet; it's in my fish tank!! Current tank info: 90 Gallon saltwater 10 fish with a few inverts; NO CORALS! Tried to go reef; didn't work out so hot; FOWLR's for me!

12/10/2017, 11:15 AM	#5
ROB2005 Reefing Is My Passion! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 719	My lyretail anthias goes crazy over Larry's Food. When he knows its feeding time, he waits in his favorite corner. __________________ If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁 Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals

12/10/2017, 07:47 PM	#6
yraveh Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Miami Beach Posts: 562	not sure whats Larry's food is. __________________ Thank You! Current Tank Info: 120g

12/11/2017, 01:06 PM	#8
C.Eymann Cnidaria lover Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Winterpark FL Posts: 1,483	I like taking blocks of PE mysis to a cheese grater to get it down to acceptable size for Anthias, seems the more picky species will take it more readily, also like using cyclops and fish eggs. As far as getting Anthias to take pellets and flakes, like mentioned some species will take to dry food easier than others, offering a mix of both frozen and dry starting off seems to help them transition easier. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 80gal build in the works