All fish / Serranidae

Bicolor Anthias

Pseudanthias bicolor

Also known as bicolour anthias, two-colour anthias, bicolor basslet, bi-color anthias, yellowback anthias, フタイロハナゴイ, 双色拟花鮨, 双色金花鲈

An active anthias that is orange to pink on the lower body with a lilac or purple upper half, and males grow two long filaments on the dorsal fin plus a yellow patch near the dorsal fin. It is kept for its bright colours and lively swimming in open water, and it is one of the hardier anthias for reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a single fish

Diet

Carnivore: frequent small feeds of mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped seafood and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii and the Line Islands, north to southern Japan

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning the dominant fish in a group changes from female to male, and it scatters pelagic eggs at dusk. Spawning can happen in large tanks but rearing the tiny larvae is very hard and rarely achieved at home.

Good to know

Needs several feeds a day and can fade or starve if fed only once daily; keep only one male unless the tank is very large, as males fight. Reef safe but may be bullied by aggressive tankmates such as dottybacks.