Pseudanthias bicolor

(Randall, 1979)

Bicolor Anthias

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Mauritius to the Hawaiian and Line Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Loyalty, Marshall and Caroline Islands.

Size: 5 inches (13 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal and outer reef slopes and usually found in small groups at depths between 15 to about 200 feet (5 – 60 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Fairly common in the trade, and quite attractive, with the males a pale violet with pale yellow on the upper body, and a long first spine in the dorsal fin, which is also somewhat violet. Females are pale lavender with some yellow on the upper body.

One of the more hardy species in this family and best maintained in aquaria with some rocky caves and strong water movement, and having a large unencumbered area for schooling, which will usually occur in the upper third of this area. Tankmates should be peaceful or at least not overly aggressive, and all should be last to enter the aquarium.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be offered at least twice daily and dispensed upstream so water currents carry food to their location.

Sometimes difficult to get feeding, and if so, fortified live adult brine shrimp may be necessary until they accept other types of aquarium foods, e.g., frozen foods and fresh marine fish and invertebrate flesh.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Serranidae

Subfamily: Anthiinae

Genus: Pseudanthias

FYI: Best maintained in small groups, one male and at least eight females.

Can jump out of the aquarium, therefore some sort of cover may be necessary.

Can be maintained with moderately aggressive fishes.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful to moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5