Squarespot Anthias – Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Species name: Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Common names: Squarespot or Squareback Anthias
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Anthiinae
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 7.8 in.
Minimum tank size: 70 gallons. Only one individual should be kept per aquarium, unless the tank is large (150 gallons should do for a trio).
Hardiness: Medium
Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressively toward other fish. Best if it is the only Anthias being kept as they will act aggressively towards other Anthias species.
Reef Compatibility: Excellent. Does not adapt well to intense light.
Diet: Anthias are zooplankton feeder and likes to eat mysid shrimp, amphipods and other macroscopic life. It should be fed with mysid shrimp, brine shrimp, live baby livebearers (Guppies) and frozen preparation. Food should be fortified with vitamin additives. They they should be fed small quantities, several times daily.
Additional information:
In the wild, Squarespot Anthias are found in the Indo-Pacific (Indonesia to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals and New Caledonia throughout Micronesia) at depth of 65 to 600 feet where they like to swim in the strong currents feeding on plankton.
The unbelievable color intensity of the Squarespot Anthias is amazing. Males are predominantly pink with a lavender belly and have a purple square spot on each side. (see picture above). Females are bright orange-yellow with a lavender belly, and often a thin blue line extending from nose to pectoral fin. Females lack the square blotch of the male.
Acclimation is often slow; your new Squarespot may hide for a week or more before you even catch a glimpse of it. Juveniles adapt more readily to aquarium confines. To make acclimatization easier, ensure there are plenty of hiding places for it. If not, it will most likely not do well.
Even in a large tank you should only keep one male per tank and 3 or more females. Anthias species are hermaphroditic. Some females may likely change sex when kept in a group of just females, no males.
Anthias requires plenty of room to swim and several caves or hiding places where it can rest and avoid intense reef lighting. It has been noticed, that they will dull in color if kept in a brightly lit tank. Water quality should be high, well oxygenated, along with plenty of water movement. Water should be kept at a temperature of 72 to 78ºF with a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025 and a pH between 8.1 and 8.4. Squarespot Anthias are prone to jumping out of open aquariums.
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