Pictilis Anthias – Male – Vanuatu

Pseudanthias pictilis, male

Pseudanthias Anthias are known for being brightly colored and will make an exquisite display when added in a harem. They can be added in groups of at least three, but will do much better in a harem size of 6 or 9. Usually, one in the group will morph into a male, and a male can be added for every 4 or 5 females, which gives a much more completed look. The males will protect the females, making for a really great show. These fish are well suited for automated feedings on pelletized foods since they readily accept prepared diets, which allows you to get them a more natural food distribution over the course of a day. Due to their increased metabolism, it is important that these anthias are fed multiple times a day. They will grow to be 6 inches in size and a harem will require an aquarium of 125 gallons. The Pictilis Anthias are found in the Western Pacific that occurs in aggregations around steep outer reef slopes up to 30 meters deep.