Yellowstripe Anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) Care Guide
Pseudanthias tuka is an Indo-West Pacific anthias that feeds on planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs over outer reef slopes.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias tuka is a reef anthias of the family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae). According to FishBase it reaches about 12 cm in total length and ranges across the Indo-West Pacific. It forms aggregations on outer reef slopes of continental reefs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias tuka
- Note: FishBase currently places this species in Mirolabrichthys tuka, family Anthiadidae
Habitat
FishBase records this species from the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius through the Philippines and Indonesia to the Solomon Islands, south to the Rowley Shoals and Great Barrier Reef, with records from Palau and southern Japan. It forms aggregations on outer reef slopes of continental reefs at depths of 2 to 40 m, usually 10 to 35 m, in water of 22 to 28 °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 consumes planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs. Wikipedia notes that the genus Pseudanthias has a diet centred 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. FishBase notes the species is used in both commercial fisheries and the aquarium trade.
Breeding the Yellowstripe Anthias (Pseudanthias tuka)
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.