Anthias Flame Basslet (Pseudanthias cooperi)

The Red-Bar Anthias is also known as Cooper's Anthias. Males have a light pink color body with vertical red bar in the mid-section of the body. Females display more orange with a silvery belly and red tail. Males and females both sport a light blue edging around most of their fins. Red-Bar Anthias have a wide range from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean from East Africa, to Samoa, Japan and Australia.

Red-Bar Fairy Anthias generally stay in the middle levels of the tank, but also require plenty of caves, ledges, and other hiding places. They can grow to a length of approximately 4”. Although a 70-gallon tank will suffice for one fish, if keeping a group of one male and several females, a 125-gallon tank or larger tank is needed.

Anthias species all share the trait of being hermaphroditic. If a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often morph to take its place.

Once acclimated to a new aquarium, Anthias do best when fed a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched frozen brine shrimp, and over time may eat high-quality flake foods offered in small quantities throughout the day. An attached refugium cultivating copepods and amphipods provides a steady supply of nutritious live food sure to keep this active planktivore content.