Sunset Anthias ♀ (Pseudanthias parvirostris)

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Sunset Anthias ♀
Pseudanthias parvirostris
Sunset Anthias ♀ (Pseudanthias parvirostris)
Name Sunset Anthias ♀
Name Lat. Pseudanthias parvirostris
Family Sea Basses
Family lat. Serranidae
Order Perch-likes
Order lat. Perciformes
Origin Indo-West Pacific
Habitat Coral reefs
Diet Planktivore
pH 8.1-8.4
Hardness 8-10 °KH
Behavior Semi-aggressive
Keeping Group
Reef Compatible Yes
Care Level Difficult
Life Span 3-5 years
Protection No
Metric Units
Size 7 cm
Temperature 22-24 °C
Salinity 33-36 ‰
Aquarium ~ 350 l
US Units
Size 3"
Temperature 72-75 °F
Salinity 1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium ~ 90 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution range of Pseudanthias parvirostris extends from Mauritius and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean through Indonesia and Australia to the Solomon Islands and Japan in the Western Pacific. They live in small groups on coral reefs with strong currents in more than 40 m depth.

Maintenance

They require a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space and a reef structure (hiding, resting and retreat possibilities) with living stones that act like a biological filter as well as a substrate of sand or fine gravel. Only substrates rich in lime and free of heavy metals may be used as substrate.

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must match the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰ pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l

For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.

Diet

They are permanent feeders, feeding mainly on zooplankton and suspended algae. The food change does not always succeed without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of live and frozen food, such as small mysis, krill, fish roe, lobster eggs, artemia, cyclops and bosmids, or a commercially available, vitamin-enriched, frozen special food mix for planktivores. Dry food (granules, flakes) is rarely accepted

It is necessary to feed small portions several times a day (5-8 times). Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They must be maintained in a group of at least 10 animals. To avoid ranking fights, one group should be placed in the aquarium at a time. They have a highly specialized social behavior, skirmishes with short chases are normal (hiding places). Care should be taken when socializing with surgeonfish and red colored wrasses are often not tolerated. They usually behave peacefully towards other fish.

Sex dimorphism

They are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. males develop from functional females when needed. The males are more colorful than the golden-yellow females.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

In case of danger they disappear in a flash into coral and rock crevices. As deep dwellers, they prefer cooler temperatures and shaded light. A dim night light is advantageous, as they tend to jump out of the aquarium in complete darkness

It is recommended to keep these typical reef inhabitants together with corals and not to keep them in a fish-only aquarium.

If different species are kept together, make sure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. Newly introduced fish must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: 2. Tierhaltungsverordnung BGBl. Nr. 486/2004 idgF; KUITER & DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

  • Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF