I love squamapini (lyre tail) anthias. I have an awesome male that is doing great. However, i keep trying to get him a couple ladies, but all the ladies die. I'm not going to say how many i've killed, but enough to say i'm going to do the species a favor and not get any more. What can I do to get females to live? he doesn't pick on them, he seems to enjoy their company and tries to coax them out. Why does he do so well but females dont? any ideas?

sexual abuse!!!
1. Are they always from same vendor, if yes try a different one.
2. feeding cycles. Anthias have high need to feed. Try feeding them more often per day ( if you haven't done so)

Lyretail's don't need to be fed more than once a day. Nor do the Bartlett's they can benefit from it but certainly isn't needed.

Start them off in a quarantine tank so they get used to eating and get used to what you are feeding. They are very shy at first and get out-competed for food in the main display.

It is not as easy to maintain groups of anthias as people think. Especially trying to add to an estrablished fish. ESPECIALLY when the established fish is a male. That is a LOT of stress on the new addition females. Add a group if you are trying, but that may still not work, either. If you REALLY want a group, you may want to consider getting rid of the male and buying an established group.

As mentioned, it is more difficult to add to an established group. Not sure if it would work or not but maybe remove the male for a week or so and introduce the females to the tank. I have a group of Lyretails and they do very well but yes, stress is big with the Anthias when first added. BTW...they only get fed once a day.

I bought a group, thats how i got the male. The females died, i've bought from more than one vendor, and on other occasions.