Flame Anthias (Pseudanthias ignitus) Care Guide
Pseudanthias ignitus is an Indian Ocean anthias of clear-water outer reef slopes that lives in harems and feeds on zooplankton.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias ignitus (Randall & Lubbock, 1981), the flame anthias, is a reef-associated marine fish. FishBase records a maximum total length of 9 cm and a preferred temperature range of 22-27 °C. It occurs in aggregations on clear-water outer reef slopes and passes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (Anthiadidae in FishBase)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias ignitus (Randall & Lubbock, 1981)
Habitat
According to FishBase the species is found in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Andaman Islands and Maldives to Indonesia and the Similan Islands of Thailand. It lives on outer reef slopes, most frequently in clear water at depths of about 3 to 15 m, with a recorded range to 40 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L (about 106 gal) (KB record)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness range (record): 8-12 °dGH
- School size: at least 5 individuals (KB record)
- Lifespan: 4-10 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase reports that the species feeds mainly on zooplankton, swimming up to several metres above the bottom while feeding. Frequent small feedings suit this planktivorous habit in aquaria.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, mid-water schooling species. Suitable companions include tangs, wrasses, clownfish and Genicanthus angelfish, while aggressive damselfish and triggerfish should be avoided.
Breeding
FishBase describes a harem-type social structure in which each male controls a group of females. Males intensify their colour during courtship and erect the dorsal fin.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 4 February 2009. The species supports commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade.
Pseudanthias ignitus Breeding Guide
Overview
Pseudanthias ignitus, the flame anthias, occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and far western Pacific around the Maldives, the Andaman and Similan Islands and Sumatra. It inhabits outer reef slopes in clear water at depths of roughly 3 to 15 metres, reaches about 9 cm and feeds on zooplankton several metres above the seafloor, retreating to crevices when threatened.
Sexing
The flame anthias is a nonandric protogynous hermaphrodite: all individuals are born female, and the largest, most dominant females change sex to become males. The species occurs in aggregations in which males maintain harems containing multiple females. During courtship, males intensify their colour and erect their red dorsal fins.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The dominant male displays to harem females before pairs ascend into the water column to release eggs and sperm. Aquaculture observations on related anthias show spawning concentrated around dusk, producing buoyant eggs that float at the surface and can be collected with an evening egg collector rather than from any nest site.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are pelagic and hatch into minute planktonic larvae that feed in the open-water plankton. In documented Pseudanthias breeding, larvae were reared on copepods and settled into juveniles roughly a month after hatching. A home reef cannot replicate the floating egg stage or the continuous live-plankton larval diet.
Common Challenges
Only a small number of anthias species have been aquacultured, and all came from institutional hatcheries. Wild-caught flame anthias also require expert quarantine and conditioning to feed reliably, so home breeding is not a realistic goal.