Purple Queen Anthias

[harrywwh]

Hi

Just got 3 purple queen anthias, 2 smaller one and a bigger one, the bigger one and one of the smaller had swim freely in tank and start taking very fine flakes i dumped into tanks, however the other small one is still hiding and not taking any food so far, I wondering can it possibly another male, any way that I can diferentiate them easily.

[keithtanbb]

take care bro, hard to keep these guys, picky feeders, I tried 8 before, all choose to starve themselve,hiding in the rocks most of the time.Anyway check these sites for more info .You will se what I mean.....Very good informations.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=20

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/fish-anthias.html

[harrywwh]

Thanks, indeed a picky feeder, had tried plantoms, they like it but had to increase the frequency in feedings, now feed 3 times a day, so far had try fine pellets from Hikari, and yet to succeed but had seen them rush to it and taste it only. will see how to make it adapt to ready food...

[aStRoBo|]

gd luck in keeping them. and having them to feed.

[keithtanbb]

I have just bought 7 purple queen today . Trying the cyclop-eeze paste that I bought from the aquarama show. Split the package with my brother -on -law.Already feeding my tank fishes witht he freeze dried version. But need to soak in water 1st.can get from iwarna if you miss the aquarama show.(so far so good!

http://www.cyclop-eeze.com/

[RAV-65]

Purple Queens, due to their reluctance to compete for food, can be a feeding nightmare!! They normally only gobble food particles that comes floating towards them, meaning you have to flood the water column with food...

Even then, they dun have a very good appetite and normally eat very little, hence, there are people who keep purple queens who end up feeding a few times a day, failing which, the fish dies a slow death after slowly losing weight withna sunken belly...

Unless u dun mind the frequent feeding, and the possible compromise of the water quality due to the frequent feedings, better if you go for easier anthias like the Dispars or Bartletts...

Juz my $0.02...

[keithtanbb]

Some more info's....linked , so checked it out. I had a hard time initially , some died! but now with the proper food, they are doing handsomely.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...&threadid=10522

http://www.netpets.com/fish/reference/reefref/anthias.html