Squarespot Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) Care Guide
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia is a Pacific anthias whose males bear a square flank patch; it is a protogynous hermaphrodite.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia is a reef anthias of the family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae); it is the type species of the genus. According to FishBase it reaches about 20 cm in total length and occurs in the Pacific Ocean. Wikipedia notes that males display a large quadrilateral purplish blotch on the flank, while females and juveniles are yellowish with purple stripes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
- Note: FishBase places this species in family Anthiadidae
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia, also reaching the Rowley Shoals in the eastern Indian Ocean and Christmas Island. It is reef-associated and occurs in aggregations above current-swept drop-off edges at depths of 0 to 180 m, usually 0 to 25 m, in water of 22 to 27 °C. Juveniles remain solitary near shelter.
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 3.4, 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
According to Wikipedia this species is a sequential (protogynous) hermaphrodite, beginning life as female and transitioning to male based on social and environmental conditions; males and females typically occupy separate aggregations near current-swept drop-offs. 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 2009.
Breeding the Squarespot Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia)
Overview
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia (family Serranidae), the squarespot anthias, ranges across the Pacific from Indonesia to Samoa and reaches about 20 cm in length, living at depths of roughly 10-180 m. Wikipedia notes that males display deep pink and orange with a large quadrilateral purplish blotch on the flank, while females and juveniles are yellowish; males and females form sexually separate aggregations near current-swept drop-offs.
Sexing
Wikipedia confirms this species is a sequential hermaphrodite, beginning life as a female and transitioning to male according to environmental conditions. Sexing is straightforward in adults because only males carry the distinctive square purplish flank patch over a pink-orange body.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Like other Pseudanthias, the species is haremic with a single dominant male and is a pelagic broadcast spawner, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column. The buoyant eggs and the larvae that hatch from them drift as plankton, with no nest or parental care.
Common Challenges
Its deep, current-swept habitat, heavy zooplankton feeding requirement, pelagic eggs and long planktonic larval phase together place reproduction far outside the capacity of a home aquarium, which cannot reproduce open-water spawning or sustain continuous fine live-food cultures.