Pulcherrimus Anthias

Description

Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias Juv/Female, Pseudanthias pulcherrimus, also go by the name Resplendent Goldies or Longfin Anthias. These Anthias are very bright fish. Females have hot pink bodies with yellow: faces, backs and tail fins. You can tell males from the females from their darker bodies. Males also have purple and yellow accents, in their fins.

These fish range from: the Seychelles, the Andaman Islands, the Maldives and Mauritius, in the West Indian Ocean. They live on and around: coral reefs, steep slopes, channels, drop offs or caves. The structures help the fish dodge predators. When feeling scared, they will quickly vanish and fix into nooks and crannies.

In nature, Juv/Female Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias feed passively, as do most types of Anthias. Which means they stay in relatively still positions, while facing the current. When Pelagic zooplankton drifts towards them in the water, the fish snatch their food up. With this method, the hunters easily get hold of small critters and eggs, while using up the smallest amount of energy possible. Feeding is fairly constant, although other behaviours break up this activity.

These are fish that live in groups, with one male to around 5 or more females. Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias are hermaphrodites. When the top male dies, the largest female in the group will turn male. It will then become the new breeding male. As a result, all juvenile Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias, are in fact immature females.

Pulcherrimus Anthias, In the Aquarium.

It is important to have good currents and regular feeding in order to copy the natural environment. A wave maker can help with this. Owners should think about using a jump guard to stop any loses.

Juv/Female Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias do best when fed a varied diet. They will accept frozen mysis shrimp and  frozen brine shrimp.

They will also eat live foods, such as copepods and amphipods, that can be cultivated in attached refugium. Over time, these fish may have small amounts of high quality flake food as well.

Our Anthias are adapted to aquarium life and most are eating a good quality frozen food, enriched with garlic guard  and vitamins, before being offered for sale. We enrich all our frozen food with garlic and vitamins. These are great for keeping fish healthy long term.

We find that the best way to keep this species is in a small group. Hobbyists should aim to keep at least 1 Male Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias with 3 or more females.

• Resplendent Pulcherrimus Anthias Juv/Female
• Pseudanthias pulcherrimus
• Care: Intermediate
• Diet: Carnivorous Planktivore
• Group Size: Alone or 1 male to 3+ females
• Place of origin: West Indian Ocean
• Coral Safe: Generally yes
• Critter Safe: Generally yes

The Fish pictured here are representative only and the livestock you receive may vary in pattern, coloration, and shape.