Regal Anthias

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Southeastern Pacific: endemic to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. Inhabits steep, deep outer reef slopes at significant depths, generally below 30-50 meters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Belongs to the family Serranidae, subfamily Anthiadinae. Slender, compressed body with a lyre-shaped caudal fin. Reaches approximately 9 cm in length.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, shy, and highly gregarious. Lives in small coordinated groups that quickly retreat into corals if startled. Protogynous hermaphrodite.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Beautiful pink and violet coloration with yellow and orange hues along the back and fins. Males display more elongated pelvic and dorsal fins with brighter colors than females.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a mature tank of at least 300 liters with plenty of live rock arranged to create shaded caves. Dim lighting. Tight-fitting lid is essential.

Diet and Feeding: Planctivorous carnivore. Feed 3-4 times daily with frozen copepods, brine shrimp, and mysis enriched with vitamins. Extremely difficult to transition to dry foods.

Water Quality: Pristine water quality is mandatory. Stable temperature 24-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.020-1.026. GH 15-25. Powerful protein skimmer recommended.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Reef safe. Suitable only for peaceful setups. Avoid aggressive or territorial species that would prevent the Regal Anthias from feeding.

Aquarium Breeding: Not bred in captivity due to the pelagic larval phase.

Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to skin parasites and acclimation stress. Critical risk of starvation if not fed continuously.