A dazzling, schooling reef fish with orange females and brighter magenta-pink males sporting an elongated dorsal ray. Active and colorful, it is reef-safe but needs frequent feeding and a harem social structure to thrive.
ℹ️
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Up to about 15 cm (6 in); females smaller, around 7-8 cm
Lifespan
4–8 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
🌊 Marine
Family
Serranidae
Genus
Pseudanthias
Part of the Anthias
Vibrant, plankton-feeding reef basslets (subfamily Anthiadinae) that swarm in current-swept harems; reef-safe but demand frequent feeding and stable water.
More anthias coming soon.
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Small harem reef
75 gal / 280 L reef
Pseudanthias squamipinnis are open-water plankton feeders best in harems (1 male, 3+ females). Need strong flow, multiple daily feedings (3–5×), and a tank with horizontal swim length.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Long mature reef
120–150 gal / 450–570 L
Longer footprint suits a larger harem. Auto-feeder or refugium pod supply keeps anthias from wasting away between meals. Stable temp (24–26 °C) and high oxygen are critical.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Reef with active refugium
180 gal+ / 680 L+ with refugium
Spacious reef with constant pod/copepod export and very high flow, mimicking reef-drop conditions. Full colour and natural shoaling behaviour become visible in this size.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
Keep in groups in a reef tank of at least 285 L (75 gal) for a small harem, with much larger tanks needed for bigger groups. Maintain 22-26 C (72-79 F), pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025 SG, dKH 8-12. Provide strong, turbulent flow that mimics current-swept reef faces and plenty of live rock with caves for refuge; reef lighting is ideal.
Substrate
Fine sand with extensive live rock forming caves and ledges. The aquascape should offer open swimming water above the rock plus shelter to dart into.
Equipment & setup
Provide strong, varied flow from multiple powerheads or a gyre pump, efficient filtration and a protein skimmer. A heater (or chiller in warm climates) keeps temperature stable; reef LED lighting suits a mixed reef.
Diet
Planktivore that feeds in the water column on zooplankton. In captivity it needs frequent feedings (two to four times daily) of enriched brine, mysis, cyclops, fine pellets and other small meaty foods. Inadequate feeding leads to slow wasting, so a refugium or auto-feeder helps maintain condition.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful, active and fully reef-safe; it does not harm corals or invertebrates. Best kept as one male with several females (a harem) or as a single specimen, since multiple males fight. These are protogynous hermaphrodites: the dominant female changes into a male if no male is present. House with other calm reef fish and avoid aggressive feeders.
Health
Prone to marine ich and velvet, especially when newly imported and stressed; shipping stress and starvation cause many early losses. Quarantine and ensure robust feeding from day one. Provide hiding places to reduce stress in the group.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Buy a group at once and add the largest fish as the male, or let a female transition. Use an automatic feeder or refugium to deliver frequent small meals. Drip-acclimate and quarantine, as anthias are sensitive to abrupt changes.
