Magenta Slender Anthias

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific: from Madagascar and the Seychelles to Indonesia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Found on outer reefs and deep drop-offs at depths of 10 to 55 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Serranidae. Differs from typical Anthias by its extremely elongated, slender, and cylindrical body (splitfin) and divided dorsal fin. Reaches only 7 cm in length.

Social Behavior: Highly social, active, and schooling. In the wild, they form massive, dense schools of hundreds or thousands of individuals that swim in unison in the upper water column feeding on zooplankton.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Iridescent magenta-pink coloration that transitions into gold and bright orange near the tail. Fins are semi-translucent with bluish edges. Sexual dimorphism is minimal; males are slightly larger.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 250 liters to accommodate a school. Ample open swimming space and strong laminar currents from wavemakers are crucial. A secure lid is mandatory.

Diet and Feeding: Specialized zooplanktivore. Due to their small mouths and hyperactive metabolism, they require tiny frozen foods (cyclops, copepods, lobster eggs) fed 3-4 times daily.

Water Quality: Pristine, highly oxygenated water is required. Temperature 22-28°C, pH 8.0-8.5, salinity SG 1.020-1.026. GH 15-25. An efficient protein skimmer is necessary to handle waste from frequent feeding.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef safe. Must be kept in schools of at least 5-8 individuals. Coexists well with peaceful reef species. Avoid aggressive food competitors or predatory fish.

Aquarium Breeding: Protogynous hermaphrodite. Spawning in captivity has never been recorded due to the high fragility of the fry and pelagic larval phase.

Risks and Diseases: High mortality and starvation risk during import. Known to jump from open tanks when startled. Susceptible to marine ich and fin rot under poor water conditions.