Lori's Anthias (Pseudanthias lori) Care Guide
Pseudanthias lori is an Indo-Pacific anthias of deeper drop-offs that feeds on crustacean larvae and fish eggs.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias lori is a reef anthias of the family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae). According to FishBase it reaches about 12 cm in total length, with a common length around 7 cm, and ranges across the Indo-Pacific. It occurs in small groups on deeper drop-offs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias lori
- Note: FishBase currently places this species in Pyronotanthias lori, family Anthiadidae
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the Indo-Pacific, from Christmas Island and the Rowley Shoals in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Tuamotu Islands, north to Japan and south to the northern Great Barrier Reef and Loyalty Islands. It typically occurs in small groups on drop-offs from 30 to 60 m, or near caves and ledges, at depths of 7 to 70 m, usually 18 to 70 m, in water of 22 to 27 °C.
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 reports that the species feeds on crustacean larvae and fish eggs, with a trophic level of about 3.4 consistent with a zooplankton 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 lori Breeding Guide
Overview
Pseudanthias lori is a reef-associated planktivore in the family Serranidae from the Indo-Pacific. It lives in haremic shoals and takes zooplankton drifting over the reef. Reproduction occurs by broadcast spawning into the water column, so neither eggs nor larvae are tied to a substrate an aquarist could manage.
Sexing
This anthias is protogynous: all fish mature first as females, and the dominant female transforms into a male if the resident male disappears. Groups are organised as harems built around a single dominant, vividly coloured male, two to twelve females, and occasionally one or two subdominant males. Lori's anthias males show stronger red patterning on a pale body than females.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning in anthias takes place above the reef, where the dominant male performs acrobatic U-swim courtship before paired water-column ascents to release eggs and sperm. Aquaculture observations on related anthias show spawning concentrated near dusk, with the resulting eggs floating freely at the surface and recoverable only by an evening egg collector.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are pelagic and produce minute larvae that live and feed within the plankton. Where related Pseudanthias have been reared, copepods served as first food and larvae settled into juveniles about a month post-hatch. A home reef cannot reproduce these conditions, since the floating eggs and continuous live-plankton feeding fall outside normal aquarium husbandry.
Common Challenges
Captive breeding of anthias has succeeded for only a handful of species and only inside dedicated hatcheries. Compounding this, wild specimens require expert quarantine and careful conditioning before they will even feed reliably, leaving no realistic path to spawning them at home.