Peach Anthias

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines to the Line Islands, Samoa, and the Ryukyu Islands. Inhabits current-swept outer reef slopes and drop-offs at depths of 1 to 18 meters, hovering in massive shoals above Acropora corals.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the subfamily Anthiinae (family Serranidae). Features a slender, streamlined body with a deeply forked tail. Reaches a maximum size of 10 cm (4 inches).

Social Behavior: Peaceful and strictly schooling. Must be kept in groups (harems) to establish a natural social structure and reduce stress.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Distinctly dimorphic: males are vibrant peach-orange with a bright red dorsal fin and a reddish stripe on the head; females are uniform soft yellow-orange with a lighter belly and translucent fins.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a large aquarium of at least 380 liters with extensive open swimming room and strong flow to replicate the reef edge. Live rock must offer shelter for sleeping. A tight-fitting lid is essential.

Diet and Feeding: Obligate planktivore. Has a fast metabolism and a tiny stomach; must be fed 3 to 4 times daily with fine frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, copepods, cyclops, mysis) and high-quality fine pellets.

Water Quality: Demands high oxygenation and clean water with a robust protein skimmer: temperature 24-26°C (75-79°F), pH 8.1-8.4, specific gravity 1.022-1.025, GH 15-25, and KH 8-12.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef-safe. Ideal for reef tanks. House one male with a group of 4-6 females. Avoid housing with aggressive tankmates that compete too aggressively for food.

Aquarium Breeding: Extremely rare in captivity. Proterogynous hermaphrodites (dominant females can transition to males). Pelagic spawners.

Risks and Diseases: Starvation is the primary risk if fed insufficiently. Highly susceptible to marine ich if stressed by poor shipping or territorial tankmates.