Lyretail anthias
Finicky zooplankton feeders that thrive in groups with constant feeding.
Last updated
Anthias resemble damsels in shape and size, but the two should never be confused. Anthias (also known as 'fairy basslets') are finicky and many starve to death in captivity. In the wild, they eat zooplankton, and will not accept anything else in the aquarium.
They also need to be fed nearly constantly, three times a day at least. The best way to ensure the health and longevity of an Anthias is to attach a refugium where copepods can be grown to 'drip' into the display tank. Unlike many other saltwater aquarium inhabitants, they can be kept in groups.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyAnthiadidae
- GenusPseudanthias
- SpeciesPseudanthias squamipinnis
Named by (Peters, 1885)
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Sea goldie (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 218278 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
Where the lyretail anthias has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (4,009 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Pseudanthias squamipinnis
- Family
- Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae)
- Maximum size
- Female up to 7 cm / 2.76 in
- Diet
- Zooplankton
Facts from the source article.
Background
Anthias are known for their resemblance to damsels but require very different care. They are zooplankton feeders in the wild and are challenging to keep in captivity.
More in Other Reef Fish
Elsewhere in Reef Aquarium Species
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Sea goldie (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced