{"product_id":"ruby-anthias-paranthias-colonus-saltwater","title":"Ruby Anthias (Paranthias colonus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E0F7FA;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eRuby Anthias\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eParanthias colonus\u003c\/em\u003e), also sold as the Creole Anthias or Pacific Creolefish, is the anthias for people who have been burned by anthias. Instead of the finicky, harem-bound \u003cem\u003ePseudanthias\u003c\/em\u003e most hobbyists try first, this eastern Pacific planktivore is a big, robust, open-water swimmer that takes prepared food almost immediately and holds condition beautifully. The body is a soft rose-lavender that deepens toward brilliant orange-red along the dorsal ridge and the deeply forked tail, with a scatter of tiny pale spots below the dorsal fin. In a large reef with real current it becomes the fish that never stops moving. This one is a medium. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to build the rest of the crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 125 gallons or larger for a single adult, 180 gallons and up if you want a small shoal. This is a genuinely large anthias, not a nano fish, and it needs open water more than it needs rockwork.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlow and layout:\u003c\/strong\u003e give it a long, open swimming lane with strong turbulent current. In the wild it hangs in the blue above the reef picking plankton out of moving water, and it behaves best when the tank lets it do the same.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.026. Stable and well oxygenated matters more than any single number, so keep gas exchange strong.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e carnivorous planktivore with a fast metabolism. Feed small portions two to three times daily rather than one large meal. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/piscine-energetics-pe-mysis\"\u003ePE Mysis\u003c\/a\u003e, enriched brine, finely chopped seafood, and quality marine pellets are all accepted. Adding \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nutramar-tigrio-live-copepods-4oz-saltwater-reef-food\"\u003elive copepods\u003c\/a\u003e during the settling-in period gets a new arrival eating faster.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLid:\u003c\/strong\u003e required. Anthias are strong, startled jumpers, and a fast open-water species like this one will find any gap in the top of the tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGroups:\u003c\/strong\u003e keep one individual, or add a shoal all at once in a large system. Adding them one at a time invites the established fish to bully the newcomer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eParanthias colonus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eRuby Anthias, Creole Anthias, Pacific Creolefish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful toward similar-sized tank mates, predatory toward anything bite-size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes, corals and clams are ignored\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eMedium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8 to 10 inches typical in aquaria, to 14 inches in the wild\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e125 gallons single, 180 gallons for a shoal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.020 to 1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCarnivore, planktivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eEastern Pacific, Gulf of California south to Peru, including the Galapagos\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest suited to a large, active community where nothing else is small enough to swallow. It mixes well with tangs and other bold mid-water swimmers, so the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/purple-tang-zebrasoma-xanthurum-saltwater\"\u003ePurple Tang\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/scopas-tang-zebrasoma-scopas-saltwater\"\u003eScopas Tang\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/yellow-foxface-siganus-vulpinus-saltwater-reef\"\u003eYellow Foxface\u003c\/a\u003e all make good company. Schooling fish such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/blue-green-chromis-chromis-viridis-saltwater\"\u003eBlue Green Chromis\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/banggai-cardinalfish-pterapogon-kauderni-saltwater\"\u003eBanggai Cardinalfish\u003c\/a\u003e work once they are grown out, but very small or very slender fish are at risk from a full-size adult. If you want the classic reef anthias look at a smaller scale instead, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/lyretail-anthias-male-pseudanthias-squamipinnis-saltwater\"\u003eLyretail Anthias\u003c\/a\u003e covers that ground. Corals, clams, and ornamental shrimp are safe, and the only real trouble comes from housing two adult Ruby Anthias in a tank too small for both to claim their own water column.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/piscine-energetics-pe-mysis\"\u003ePiscine Energetics PE Mysis\u003c\/a\u003e frozen staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-mysis-shrimp\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Frozen Mysis Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e for feeding variety\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/vitalis-marine-pellets-1mm\"\u003eVitalis Marine Pellets 1mm\u003c\/a\u003e as a dry staple between frozen feedings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nutramar-tigrio-live-copepods-4oz-saltwater-reef-food\"\u003eNutramar Tigrio Live Copepods\u003c\/a\u003e to start a new arrival feeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/selcon-vitamin-fish-food-supplement-60ml\"\u003eSelcon Vitamin Booster\u003c\/a\u003e for soaking frozen food on a fast-metabolism fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this easier than a normal anthias?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGenerally yes. Most \u003cem\u003ePseudanthias\u003c\/em\u003e arrive thin and refuse dry food for weeks. \u003cem\u003eParanthias\u003c\/em\u003e is a bigger, sturdier fish that usually switches to prepared foods quickly. The trade-off is size: it needs far more tank than a Lyretail does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow many times a day does it need to eat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo to three small feedings is the realistic minimum. Plankton pickers burn through calories, and one feeding a day slowly wastes them down. An autofeeder or a midday pellet drop makes this easy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep more than one?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly in a large system, and only if you add them together. Two adults introduced at different times in a modest tank will spar over the open water they both want.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it eat my corals or cleanup crew?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. It picks food out of the water column and ignores corals, clams, snails, and full-grown ornamental shrimp. Very small fish and newly added shrimp are the exception once it reaches adult size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49030574276827,"sku":"FATRU200AA-4","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/da37207c-2a89-4372-9d5d-1ec5a85db76b.jpg?v=1785195562","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ruby-anthias-paranthias-colonus-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}