Lyretail anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
FishSaltwater
- Care level
- Moderate
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Reef safe
- Yes
- Recommended tank
- 400 L
- Maximum size
- 12 cm
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8–8.4
- Group size
- ≥ 5
- Diet
- Planktivore
Care at a glance
The lyretail anthias lives in large harem groups above the reef, in which a single strikingly orange-red male rules over golden-yellow females. Remarkably, all of them start out as females: if the male disappears, the dominant female turns into a male within a few weeks.
In the wild it feeds on plankton all day and therefore needs several small feedings a day; on one feeding it slowly wastes away. Keep one male with several females in a spacious tank with flow and plenty of caves.
Good to know
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.