Here's a link to my tank upgrade thread on Reefcentral.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2450391

There are some pictures of the anthias in there. They are a difficult fish to capture a good picture of as they are usually moving around a lot.

So I've now had this guy for at least 3.5 years.

I still don't understand people feeding these guys multiple times a day.... Heck there are days my tank doesn't get fed at all.... Used to just buy frozen cyclopeeze and within a few days they were switched to Omega One marine Micro pellets.

Part of me wants to add a few more to get a normal group number, but im happy with the fish I have now.... and don't want to risk it.
Plus I don't think my guy needs girls to boss around to be happy, he rules the tank and bosses the wrasses and damsel so I think he's good.

Here are some older photos of him.

Hes now starting to purple up quite nicely, get the spots on his fins, that large spike as the first ray on his dorsal.
Totally different looking fish now

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...W/IMG_9991.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...031_112133.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...tFish034-1.jpg


And Today

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...IMG_5953_1.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...IMG_5940_1.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...W/IMG_5946.jpg

Some of those pictures are good candidates for POTM

What kind of Anthias is it BTW.
AquaAddict

He is a Lyretail

In that second photo I have a Mirror taped to the glass to distract him. He was being a total turd to my Melanurus Wrasse that I had just added to the tank.
Here he is keeping an eye on his wrasses. Not that you can tell in this photo but the Melanurus is more then twice his size now, yet Anthias is still "king".


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...W/IMG_5919.jpg




I can't wait until he looks like this.
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/at...289d1341319847
Not too far off!




.

How are they with other tankmates? Any combinations you should absolutely avoid? Should you add them close to last so they don't bully new additions?

I think that depends on each individual anthias, and whether you're doing a group or a single.
My guy survived the Velvet (or whatever it was that bloody flame angel had) attack of 2012 lol so it was just him and the blenny for a while before I was comfortable adding new fish. He was good with the addition of the clowns and damsel because there used to be those in the tank with him before the velvet wiped them out. But when I added another angel and my melanurus wrasse, I had to tape a few mirrors to the tank to get him to go after himself and leave the new fish alone. He's good with everyone now. He will chase the damsel if he catches that guy going after the clowns. He closely monitors the 2 wrasses and makes sure they behave themselves, otherwise he just "patrols" his tank. So there are no fights or misbehaving fish in my tank. He won't allow it. :lol:

When I had them in groups, I found they kept to themselves. Left other fish alone whether they were in the tank before them or after them.

Actually I think my lyretail spent too much alone time with the blenny.... I have photos of him rubbing up against the blenny....

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...ewCoral015.jpg


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias025.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias021.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias013.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias011.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias008.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...Anthias001.jpg