Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Breeding Guide

Breeding the lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis): a protogynous, harem-forming, pelagic-spawning reef fish that is not bred in home aquariums.

Overview

Pseudanthias squamipinnis is a schooling reef fish (family Serranidae) of the Indo-Pacific, in which females reach about 7 cm and males about 15 cm. It feeds primarily on zooplankton and is often found in very large schools above the reef (Wikipedia). The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that forms harems and spawns by releasing pelagic eggs into open water, so it is not bred in home aquariums.

Sexing

Sexes differ in size and color: males are larger and more vividly colored, females smaller and orange. The species is protogynous: a male holds a harem of five to ten females, and when the male dies or leaves, the largest dominant female changes sex to become the new male, a transition that can take several weeks to months (Wikipedia).

Conditioning

As a constant zooplankton grazer, the lyretail anthias needs frequent feeding. A stable harem of one male with several females in a large, well-fed reef system is the natural social structure, but conditioning does not lead to rearable offspring in the home.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

In the Red Sea, spawning occurs at sunset between December and February (Wikipedia). The male and females release pelagic eggs and larvae into the water column. This open-water broadcast spawning cannot be reproduced or its drifting larvae captured in an aquarium.

Egg & Fry Care

The eggs and larvae are pelagic and drift in the plankton (Wikipedia). The minute, planktonic first-stage larvae and prolonged drifting phase place anthias among the most difficult marine fish to rear, and no home protocol exists for this species.

Common Challenges

The combination of pelagic broadcast spawning, a protogynous harem social system, and a long planktonic larval phase puts breeding Pseudanthias squamipinnis beyond home aquaria. A stable harem can be kept and may spawn, but raising the offspring is not achievable at home.