Yellowfin Anthias (Pseudanthias flavicauda) Care Guide
Pseudanthias flavicauda is a small western Pacific anthias known from Fiji and Tonga, found on deeper reefs.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias flavicauda is a reef anthias of the family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae). According to FishBase it reaches about 6.6 cm in standard length and occurs in the western Pacific. Males display magenta bodies with yellow dorsal patches and pink heads, while females are orange-pink with yellow caudal fins.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias flavicauda
- Note: FishBase places this species in family Anthiadidae
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the western Pacific, off the islands of Fiji and, more recently, Tonga. It is reef-associated and tropical, occurring at depths of about 30 to 61 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L (about 106 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (record): 8-12 °dGH
- Group size: keep in groups (record suggests 5 or more)
- Lifespan: 4-10 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase gives the species a trophic level of about 3.3, consistent with a carnivorous, zooplankton-based diet; Wikipedia notes that the genus Pseudanthias feeds on zooplankton. In aquaria it requires several small feedings of meaty planktonic foods per day.
Compatibility
Pseudanthias are haremic, active mid-water swimmers. According to Wikipedia the genus is haremic and protogynous, with fish developing first as females and the dominant individual changing into a male. The KB record lists tangs, wrasses, clownfish and Genicanthus angelfish as suitable companions, while aggressive damsels and triggers are best avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2015.
Pseudanthias flavicauda Breeding Guide
Overview
Pseudanthias flavicauda is an Indo-Pacific reef anthias in the family Serranidae that feeds on drifting zooplankton and forms haremic shoals. It is a broadcast spawner, releasing eggs into the open water column so that fertilisation and larval life occur away from the reef floor.
Sexing
The species follows the genus pattern of protogyny: individuals start as females and the dominant female becomes male when the resident male is lost. Social units are harems of one colourful dominant male with two to twelve females and sometimes one or two subdominant males. Males of the yellowfin anthias intensify body colour and display a bright yellow caudal fin.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The dominant male courts females with acrobatic U-swim displays before paired ascents into the water column release gametes. In aquaculture work on related anthias, spawning clusters around dusk and the buoyant eggs gather at the surface, where they can only be retrieved with an evening egg collector.
Egg & Fry Care
Pelagic eggs hatch into tiny planktonic larvae that drift and feed within the plankton. Documented Pseudanthias rearing relied on copepods as larval food, with juveniles settling roughly a month after hatching. None of this transfers to a home tank, where the open-water egg stage and live-plankton larval diet cannot be maintained.
Common Challenges
Only a few anthias species have been aquacultured, all in institutional hatcheries. Wild-caught anthias furthermore require expert quarantine and conditioning before they feed reliably, which makes any home breeding attempt impractical from the outset.