All fish / Serranidae

Cooper's anthias

Pseudanthias cooperi

Also known as coopers anthias, red-bar anthias, red bar anthias, cooper anthias, silverstreak goldie, alutu anthias, cooperi anthias, ケラマハナダイ, 库氏拟花鮨, 红带花鮨

Cooper's anthias is a slim, pink to red reef fish with a lyre-shaped tail. Males grow a deep red bar on the flank and often take on lavender tones. It is kept as a lively and colourful schooling fish for larger reef tanks, and it tends to be hardier than many other anthias.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 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: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods and quality small pellets, fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Samoa and Tonga

Breeding

It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, so the dominant female in a group turns into a male. Spawning happens in open water and the eggs and larvae float. Captive raising is rare and difficult.

Good to know

It needs several small feeds a day and a lot of open swimming space. Males in the same tank fight unless the tank is very large.