Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Care Guide
A stunning schooling reef fish where males are vivid magenta-purple and females bright orange. Protogynous hermaphrodites — if the dominant male dies, the largest female transforms into a male.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias squamipinnis is a species in the family Serranidae. A stunning schooling reef fish where males are vivid magenta-purple and females bright orange. Protogynous hermaphrodites — if the dominant male dies, the largest female transforms into a male. Best kept as a harem of one male with several females. Needs frequent feeding.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias squamipinnis
- Other names: Scalefin Anthias, Sea Goldie
- Origin: Indo-Pacific
Habitat
Pseudanthias squamipinnis is a planktivorous reef fish of Indo-Pacific drop-offs, living in large shoals that feed on zooplankton in the current. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: the dominant individual becomes a colourful male. Reef-safe but needs strong flow and frequent feeding.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- KH: 8-12 dKH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 8-12 cm
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Recommended group size: ≥ 5
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: multiple times daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Position in tank: middle
- Compatible tank mates: Tangs, Wrasses, Clownfish, Blennies
- Avoid with: Aggressive Fish, Predatory Fish
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) Breeding Guide
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.