Lyretail Anthias

The lyretail anthias is the best-known species of the orange fish schools that float like clouds above corals in reef photographs. Anthias belong to the same family as groupers and combers (Serranidae), in the subfamily Anthiadinae. Females are orange–gold and carry a violet line running from below the eye to the pectoral fin. Males are larger and purple–magenta; the third spine of the dorsal fin is extended into a long filament, and there is a red spot on the pectoral fin.

All individuals are collected from the wild. It is a hardy anthias but needs frequent feeding; fish fed only one meal a day lose weight and color.

It lives on Indo-Pacific and Red Sea reefs in large groups of hundreds of fish, just above coral outcrops where the current brings plankton. In danger it dives in among corals and rocks.

• Volume: at least 400 liters for a single fish or a small group; 600 liters or more for a harem of one male and 4–6 females.
• Water: salinity 1.023–1.026 specific gravity, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C. High oxygen and strong flow.
• Decor: open swimming space in the upper part, with rock and coral structures below for shelter.
• Lid: it may be startled and jump, especially at night when the lights go off; a lid is recommended.
• Reef compatibility: reef safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.

Carnivorous; in the wild it constantly picks zooplankton. In the aquarium, offer frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, fish roe and small granules. It needs small feedings at least 3 times a day; an automatic feeder helps.

Peaceful. Males fight among themselves and while managing the females; females are generally compatible. It shows its best colors among timid companions and with frequent feeding.

Good companions: clownfish, tangs, dwarf angelfish, fairy and flasher wrasses, cardinalfish, gobies, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: lionfish, large wrasses and triggerfish; very fast fish that snatch the food; a second male (except in a very large aquarium).

It lives in a harem: one male and several females. All individuals start out female; if there is no male in the group, the most dominant female changes into a male within a few weeks. For this reason the easiest route is to buy a group made up only of females. A single fish can also be kept, but it behaves more naturally in a group.

It is a protogynous species (female first). In the late afternoon the male displays to the females, and the pair rises into the water column and releases pelagic eggs. Fry are not raised in home aquariums.

• Poor nutrition: the most common problem; it shows itself as fading color and weight loss.
• Marine white spot and velvet: quarantine is recommended.
• Male fighting: if there are two males in a small aquarium, torn fins and constant chasing are seen; the weaker one cannot feed.

Obvious: males are purple–magenta, larger, with a long filament on the dorsal fin and a red spot on the pectoral fin. Females are orange–gold and smaller.