Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)

The Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus) is a small, jewel-toned reef fish that brings constant color and movement to the upper water column. Washed in pink and lavender with a golden-yellow back, it hovers and darts in the current like a living gem. It is a peaceful, reef-safe planktivore best suited to an established reef with strong flow and frequent feedings. Intermediate care. Browse the rest of our saltwater fish.

Care Guide

Anthias are tireless mid-water swimmers, so give them an established reef tank of around 70 gallons or more with strong flow, open swimming room, and plenty of rockwork to dart into. Keep standard reef parameters: 72 to 78 F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and salinity 1.023 to 1.025. The single most important thing with any anthias is feeding. They are high-metabolism planktivores that need small meaty foods two to three times a day, such as mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and copepods, to hold their weight and color. A healthy pod population or a refugium helps a lot. Anthias are hermaphroditic harem fish, so they do best in a group with one male and several females, and a female will change to male if needed.

Specifications

Compatibility

The Resplendent Anthias is completely reef-safe and peaceful, so it will not bother corals, clams, or invertebrates and makes a beautiful addition to a community reef. It can be kept singly, but it shines in a harem of one male and several females in a large enough tank. Pair it with other calm tankmates and avoid aggressive or fast, greedy fish that will outcompete it at feeding time.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

Frequent small, meaty feedings are the key to a healthy, colorful anthias.

• Reef Nutrition Tigger Feast live copepods, an anthias favorite.
• Nutramar Tigrio Live Copepods to seed pods and feed picky eaters.
• Ocean Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus Flake plus frozen mysis for daily feedings.
• See our other anthias: Lyretail Anthias Male and Female.

FAQ

Is it reef-safe?
Yes, completely. It is peaceful and will not harm corals, clams, or invertebrates.

How often do I need to feed it?
Two to three small meaty feedings a day. Anthias have fast metabolisms, and frequent feeding is the main key to keeping them healthy and colorful.

Can I keep more than one?
Yes. They are harem fish and do best with one male and several females. They are hermaphroditic, so a female can become male if the group needs one.

What size tank does it need?
An established reef of about 70 gallons or more with strong flow and open swimming space suits a small group.