Breeding the Yellowstripe Anthias (Pseudanthias tuka)

Pseudanthias tuka is a haremic, sex-changing planktivore that feeds on planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs; its pelagic spawning and planktonic larvae make home breeding impractical.

Overview

Pseudanthias tuka (family Serranidae), the yellowstripe anthias, ranges across the Indo-West Pacific from Mauritius to the Solomon Islands and reaches about 12 cm total length, living at depths of 2-40 m, most often 10-35 m. FishBase records its diet as planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs, and Wikipedia describes the genus Pseudanthias as zooplankton-feeding and haremic.

Sexing

As an anthias, this species is a protogynous hermaphrodite: individuals mature first as females, and a female changes into a male when the dominant male is removed from the harem. Males are larger and more vividly coloured, which is the practical cue to sex within a group.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Pseudanthias are haremic, led by a single dominant male, and spawn as pelagic broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column above the reef. The buoyant eggs and the larvae that hatch from them drift as plankton, with no nest or parental care.

Common Challenges

The strong feeding demand for tiny live plankton, the open-water spawning mode, pelagic eggs and a long planktonic larval phase mean a home aquarium cannot supply the conditions this species needs to reproduce, and even maintaining adults requires intensive feeding.