Ventralis Anthias (Pseudanthias ventralis) Care Guide
Pseudanthias ventralis is a secretive deep-water Pacific anthias from caves and drop-offs, considered difficult to maintain.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall, 1979), known as the longfin anthias, is a small reef fish. FishBase records a maximum total length of 7 cm and lists the species under the genus Compsanthias. Wikipedia notes it occasionally enters the aquarium trade but is a difficult species to maintain.
Taxonomy
- Family: Serranidae (Anthiadidae in FishBase)
- Genus: Pseudanthias
- Scientific name: Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall, 1979)
- Recombination: Compsanthias ventralis (FishBase)
Habitat
FishBase and Wikipedia report a Pacific distribution from southern Japan to the Marshall Islands, the Coral Sea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Great Barrier Reef, with populations in French Polynesia, Pitcairn Island and the Cook Islands. It is a secretive species of coral reefs at depths of 26 to 120 m, sheltering in caves, beneath ledges and over coral rubble along steep drop-offs.
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
According to FishBase and Wikipedia the species feeds on zooplankton, including copepods, crustacean larvae and fish eggs. It leaves shelter to feed in the water column, which calls for frequent small feedings in captivity.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, mid-water species. Suitable companions include tangs, wrasses, clownfish and Genicanthus angelfish, while aggressive damselfish and triggerfish should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 4 February 2009.
Pseudanthias ventralis Breeding Guide
Overview
Pseudanthias ventralis is an Indo-Pacific anthias of the family Serranidae, often associated with deeper reef habitat, that feeds on zooplankton and lives in harems. It reproduces by broadcast spawning into the open water column, so eggs and larvae develop adrift rather than on the reef itself.
Sexing
This anthias is protogynous: fish begin as females and the dominant female changes into a male when the resident male is lost. Harems centre on a single dominant, brightly coloured male with two to twelve females and up to two subdominant males. Males develop the striking purple back and yellow flanks that distinguish the species.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Courtship features the dominant male's acrobatic U-swim displays, after which a male and female ascend together into the water column to release gametes. Breeding work on related anthias indicates spawning near dusk and buoyant eggs that drift at the surface, harvested only with an evening egg collector.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs are pelagic and yield tiny planktonic larvae that feed within the open-water plankton. In documented Pseudanthias rearing, larvae took copepods and settled into juveniles about a month after hatching. These conditions cannot be recreated in a home reef, where the floating egg stage and live-plankton larval diet are not maintainable.
Common Challenges
Anthias have been aquacultured for only a few species in institutional hatcheries. Deeper-water species such as the ventralis anthias additionally demand careful acclimation, and wild stock needs expert quarantine and conditioning, so home breeding remains out of reach.