FishMarineAdvanced
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Painted Anthias
Pseudanthias pictilis
An exceptionally colorful deepwater Anthias featuring exquisite magenta, yellow, and orange shading; highly sought after yet very demanding.
Water Temperature
21 - 26 °C
pH Value
8.1 - 8.4
Water type
Marine
Tank level
All levels
Adult size
13.5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 300 L
Minimum group
>= 3
GH
15 - 25 dGH
KH
8 - 12 dKH
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Restricted to the Southwest Pacific Ocean, particularly the Coral Sea, New Caledonia, and Lord Howe Island. Inhabits deep outer reefs and steep drop-offs at depths of 20 to 80 meters.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Member of the family Serranidae. Grows up to 13.5 cm in total length. Body is deeper and more robust than many other anthias species, with broad, showy fins.
Social Behavior: Forms tight-knit harems consisting of a single dominant male and several females. Spends time in open water but stays close to the reef for safety.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: One of the most colorful reef fishes. The male is magenta-pink with a large yellow and orange posterior section, and violet face stripes. The female is orange-pink with a prominent purple band through the eye.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Requires a tank of at least 300 liters with plenty of rockwork arranged to form overhangs and dark caves. Moderate lighting and a tight-fitting lid are essential to keep them secure.
Diet and Feeding: Obligate zooplanktivore. Demands frequent feedings (3-4 times daily) of high-protein frozen foods like mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and cyclops. Well-acclimated individuals may accept micro-pellets.
Water Quality: Demands stable parameters, cool water, and absolute cleanliness. Temperature 21-26°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.026. GH 15-25. A heavy-duty protein skimmer is mandatory.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: 100% reef safe. Coexists well with peaceful or semi-aggressive tankmates. Avoid housing with overly fast food competitors or aggressive species.
Aquarium Breeding: Protogynous hermaphrodite. Spawning in home aquariums is undocumented due to challenges in long-term maintenance and larval complexity.
Risks and Diseases: Very sensitive to water chemistry fluctuations and skin parasites like Marine Velvet. Fasting leads to rapid weight loss and starvation.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Restricted to the Southwest Pacific Ocean, particularly the Coral Sea, New Caledonia, and Lord Howe Island. Inhabits deep outer reefs and steep drop-offs at depths of 20 to 80 meters.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsAustralia, New Guinea, and Oceania
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- The temperament of Pseudanthias pictilis is generally peaceful towards completely unrelated fish, making them wonderful community residents. However, they establish a strict pecking order within their own group, which can involve some chasing and posturing. The dominant male will frequently display to the females to maintain his status and keep the harem in line. While usually harmless, this internal squabbling requires adequate space and hiding spots for subordinate individuals. They should not be housed with overly aggressive predators that might bully or consume them.
- Diet
- Carnivore
- In the wild, Pseudanthias pictilis is a dedicated zooplanktivore that constantly picks tiny organisms from the water column. In the home aquarium, they require a varied diet consisting of high-quality frozen or live meaty foods. Suitable options include mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and finely chopped seafood. Getting them to accept dry prepared foods like high-quality flakes or small pellets can take time and patience. A diverse nutritional profile is crucial for maintaining their vibrant coloration and immune health.
- Life expectancy
- 5-7 years
- In a well-maintained home aquarium, the Painted Anthias has a captive lifespan of approximately 5 to 7 years. To support their long-term health, aquarists must provide stable water conditions and a highly nutritious diet. They are relatively hardy compared to some other deep-water anthias, but they still require a low-stress environment. Keeping them in a group with a natural social structure also helps ensure their health and longevity.
- Adult size
- 13.5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 13.5 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 13.5 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Pseudanthias pictilis (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Harem
- This species exhibits a fascinating social structure characterized by protogynous hermaphroditism, where all individuals are born female. A typical group consists of a single dominant male maintaining a harem of several females. If the dominant male is removed or dies, the largest and most dominant female will morph into a male to take his place. For the home aquarium, it is best to purchase a group of females and allow this natural transition to occur. Keeping multiple males usually results in fatal aggression unless the tank is massive.
- Feeding frequency
- 3-4 times daily
- Due to their incredibly active metabolism and natural grazing behavior, Pseudanthias pictilis requires multiple feedings throughout the day. It is highly recommended to feed them small amounts at least three to four times daily. Infrequent, large feedings are poorly digested and can lead to malnutrition or starvation over time. Automated feeders can be very useful for dispensing small amounts of dry food while the aquarist is away. Consistent, frequent meals are the key to long-term success with this species.
- Bioload
- High
- Pseudanthias pictilis contributes a moderate amount to the overall bioload of a marine aquarium system. Due to their highly active nature and constant swimming, they require frequent feedings which indirectly increases the organic waste produced. Excellent filtration and regular water changes are strongly recommended to process these nutrients. Maintaining a robust protein skimmer will help manage the dissolved organics effectively. Proper husbandry ensures that the bioload remains manageable over the long term.
- Flow
- Strong
- This species originates from dynamic reef environments where strong water movement is a constant factor. Pseudanthias pictilis thrives in aquariums that provide moderate to strong, turbulent water flow across the aquascape. Brisk currents simulate their natural habitat and encourage their natural schooling and feeding behaviors in the water column. Powerheads or wavemakers should be positioned to create broad, sweeping flow patterns rather than harsh, direct streams. Adequate flow also keeps particulate food suspended longer, giving them more time to feed.
- Jump risk
- Yes
- Like many highly active reef fishes, Pseudanthias pictilis presents a moderate to high risk of jumping out of an open aquarium. They are easily startled by sudden movements, lighting changes, or aggressive tank mates, which can trigger a flight response. It is strongly advised to keep a tight-fitting lid or a custom mesh screen over the tank at all times. Even small gaps around equipment and overflow boxes should be covered to prevent tragic accidents. Taking these precautions is a simple but vital part of their husbandry.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding Pseudanthias pictilis in a home aquarium is exceptionally rare and presents significant challenges for even advanced hobbyists. They are pelagic spawners that release their eggs and sperm into the water column during synchronized mating rituals. The resulting larvae are microscopic and require highly specialized, perfectly sized live planktonic foods to survive. Furthermore, the larval stage is extremely long and sensitive to minute changes in water quality. Consequently, nearly all specimens available in the trade are wild-caught rather than captive-bred.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Reef safe
- This species is generally considered completely reef safe and makes a stunning addition to mixed reef aquariums. Pseudanthias pictilis will typically ignore corals, sessile invertebrates, and most motile invertebrates like ornamental shrimp. They are generally peaceful towards heterospecifics but can display significant aggression towards other Anthias species. It is usually best to keep them as the only Anthias species in the tank unless the aquarium is exceptionally large. Careful observation is needed when introducing new tank mates to ensure harmony.
- Tank level
- All levels
- Throughout the day, Pseudanthias pictilis will predominantly occupy the middle to upper levels of the water column. They are highly visible fish that love to hover above the reef structure, facing into the current to catch passing food. At night or when frightened, they will quickly dart into the rockwork to seek shelter in crevices and caves. Providing plenty of open swimming space alongside complex rock formations is essential for their comfort. Their active presence brings a wonderful sense of movement and life to the upper reef zones.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.4 ± 0.4 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01413, b = 3
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
