Anthias

60 species

Anthias are among the most colorful and active fish you can add to a reef aquarium. They belong to the family Serranidae and are often found in large shoals in the wild, swimming in mid-water columns around coral reefs. In an aquarium setting, Anthias require a spacious tank with plenty of swimming room and hiding spots. They thrive in well-oxygenated water with stable parameters.

One of the key considerations when keeping Anthias is their dietary needs. They are planktivores, meaning they primarily feed on plankton in the wild. Therefore, in captivity, they should be fed multiple times a day with a variety of small, meaty foods like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and high-quality marine pellets. Anthias are also known for their complex social structures and are best kept in groups with a clear hierarchy. It's important to have a dominant male and several females to mimic their natural social setting.

Scientifically, Anthias are fascinating due to their sequential hermaphroditism. This means that individuals can change sex from female to male, which is a response to social cues such as the absence of a dominant male. This unique trait ensures the stability and continuity of their social structure in the wild.

Overall, Anthias are a vibrant and dynamic addition to a reef aquarium, offering both visual appeal and interesting behaviors. However, their care requirements mean they are best suited for intermediate to advanced aquarists.

  1. Schooling of anthais such as carberryi anthias, resplendent anthias, evansi anthias in Short stony polyp reef tank
    Common name: Swallowtail seaperch
    Scientific name: Anthias anthias
  2. Fahnenbarsche - Threadnose bass
    Common name: threadnose bass
    Scientific name: Choranthias tenuis
  3. Common name: Earle's splitfin
    Scientific name: Luzonichthys earlei
  4. Common name: Striped splitfin
    Scientific name: Luzonichthys taeniatus
  5. School of Magenta slender anthias in a coral reef (Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia in 2012)
    Common name: Magenta slender anthias
    Scientific name: Luzonichthys waitei
  6. Common name: Whitley's splitfin
    Scientific name: Luzonichthys whitleyi
  7. nemanthias carberryi
    Common name: Threadfin goldie
    Scientific name: Nemanthias carberryi
  8. Blotchy Anthias (Odontanthias borbonius) fish
    Common name: Checked swallowtail
    Scientific name: Odontanthias borbonius
  9. Pink Bartlett's Anthias with black background
    Common name: Yellow anthias
    Scientific name: Odontanthias fuscipinnis
  10. Paranthias colonus during dive next to Malpelo. Pacific creolefish on the dive. Abundant fish in protected area.
    Common name: Pacific creolefish
    Scientific name: Paranthias colonus
  11. Creolefish
    Common name: Creole-fish
    Scientific name: Paranthias furcifer
  12. Common name: Fourmanoir's basslet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias fourmanoiri
  13. Common name: Gardiner's Perchlet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias gardineri
  14. Common name: Helen's Wrasse
    Scientific name: Plectranthias helenae
  15. Common name: Red blotched perchlet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias inermis
  16. Common name: Silverspots
    Scientific name: Plectranthias longimanus
  17. Common name: Bownband perchlet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias nanus
  18. Pelicier Hawk fish - Plectranthias pelicieri
    Common name: Pelicier's Perchlet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias pelicieri
  19. Common name: Spotted perchlet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias wheeleri
  20. Common name: Redblotched basslet
    Scientific name: Plectranthias winniensis
  21. Common name: Yamakawai
    Scientific name: Plectranthias yamakawai
  22. Common name: Goldenback Basslet
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias aurulentus
  23. Beautiful Bartlett's anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum) swimming in coral reef tank
    Common name: Bartlett's anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias bartlettorum
  24. Evansi Anthias isolated
    Common name: Bicolor anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias bicolor
  25. Two-spot basslet, twospot or twinspot anthias, bimac anthias, purple goldie (Pseudanthias bimaculatus).
    Common name: Two-spot basslet
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias bimaculatus
  26. Common name: Carlson's Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias carlsoni
  27. Cleaner shrimp cleaning an anthias, Pseudanthias cooperi, Kritimati Island, Kribati.
    Common name: Silver-streak goldie
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias cooperi
  28. Redfin anthias, Pseudanthias dispar, Raja Ampat Indonesia
    Common name: Dispar Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias dispar
  29. Evansi Anthias (Pseudanthias evansi)
    Common name: Yellowback anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias evansi
  30. スジハナダイ
    Common name: One-stripe anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias fasciatus
  31. female Yellowtail Anthias (Pseudanthias flavicauda)
    Common name: Yellowtail Coralfish
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias flavicauda
  32. Common name: Yellow-spotted anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias flavoguttatus
  33. Common name: Hawaiian Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias hawaiiensis
  34. Common name: Orangehead anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias heemstrai
  35. Common name: Hiva Fairy Wrasse
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias hiva
  36. Threadfin Anthias Pseudanthias huchtii
    Common name: Threadfin anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias huchtii
  37. Common name: Hutomo's anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias hutomoi
  38. Pink fairy basslett  (Pseudanthias hypselosoma) female
    Common name: Stocky anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias hypselosoma
  39. Flame anthias, Pseudanthias ignitus, Raja Ampat Indonesia
    Common name: Flame anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias ignitus
  40. Common name: Lori's anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias lori
  41. female luzon anthias fish
    Common name: Yellow-lined anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias luzonensis
  42. Sunburst anthias fish Serranocirrhitus latus
    Common name: Sunburst Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias mooreanus
  43. Olive anthias, Pseudanthias olivaceus, endemic to Line Islands, Kritimati Island, Kribati.
    Common name: Olive Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias olivaceus
  44. コウリンハナダイのメス
    Common name: Sunset anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias parvirostris
  45. Purple quen anthias, Pseudanthias pascalus, Kosrae Micronesia.
    Common name: Amethyst anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias pascalus
  46. Yellowback anthias (Pseudanthias evansi)
    Common name: Painted anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias pictilis
  47. Squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) near Mabul island, Malaysia
    Common name: Squarespot anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
  48. Common name: Resplendent goldie
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias pulcherrimus
  49. Male Randall's Anthias - (Pseudanthias randalli)
    Common name: Randall's fairy basslet
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias randalli
  50. Common name: high finned anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias regalis
  51. Low-angle closeup of a redbar anthias swimming underwater stones and corals around
    Common name: Red-belted anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias rubrizonatus
  52. Common name: Shen's basslet
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias sheni
  53. Princess anthiases, Pseudanthias smithvanizi, females, Kosrae Micronesia.
    Common name: Princess anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias smithvanizi
  54. Lyretail Anthias coral fish - (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
    Common name: Lyretail anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias squamipinnis
  55. Multiple shots of anthias reef coral fish
    Common name: Striped Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias taeniatus
  56. Colorful Tropical Gold Fishes In The Ocean Near Coral Reef. Saltwater Red Anthias Fish In The Red Sea.
    Common name: Hawaiian anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias thompsoni
  57. Common name: Townsend's anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias townsendi
  58. Male purple queen anthias, Pseudanthias tuka, Raja Ampat Indonesia
    Common name: Purple Queen Anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias tuka
  59. Exotic fish. Bannerfish (Heniochus monoceros) in the tropical waters of the  ocean
    Common name: Longfin anthias
    Scientific name: Pseudanthias ventralis
  60. Common name: Yellowfin red bass
    Scientific name: Zalanthias kelloggi