Sunset Anthias - Medium

The Sunset Anthias' usual colours are a combination of yellow, warm orange, peach, or red. However, males do tend to be redder than females who are predominantly yellow. A common colouration is a pinkish yellow body, with red highlights on the fins and upper body. Their bodies feature pink flecks, and their heads have a pink diamond pattern. Both sexes have a magenta stripe between the eyes. Males can be identified by a thickened, pointed upper lip which moves up and down.

Sunset Anthias are protogynous hermaphrodites. If a dominant male is absent, the largest female will transform into a male as a replacement. Their social group consists of a harem which contains the dominant male and a small group of females.

This species is distributed across the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. It is found in the Maldives, Southern Japan, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. Sunset Anthias inhabit outer reef slopes, usually near the bottom. Often near patch reefs and sandy, rubble area. They are usually found between depths of 40-65 metres, but sometimes as shallow as 35 metres.

Tank Recommendations for the Sunset Anthias

Tank capacity should be at least 70 gallons (265 liters) for a single Sunset Anthias. This should be increased to 150 gallons (568 liters) for a harem of 5-8 fish.

Sunset Anthias can be housed in reef aquariums or fish only tanks. These are social creatures who benefit from being housed together. A suitable group should contain 1 male and 4-7 females. A suitable tank should contain a variety of live rock, with hiding places and caves.

As Sunset Anthias are a deep-water fish species, lighting should be moderate. Bright lighting can prevent them from properly acclimatising. Water needs to be of the highest quality, and so a protein skimmer is recommended.

Suitable Tank Buddies

This is a peaceful species that can cohabit with a variety of fish. However, it may become territorial with conspecifics, or other species of Anthias.

Although they can be kept individually, they benefit from being part of a harem.

Usually Compatible

Suitable tank buddies are passive, non-aggressive species such as Chromis, Basslets, and Gobies.

Sometime Compatible

Aggression may be shown to conspecifics if there is more than one male. Caution is advised with Batfish, Scorpionfish, Frogfish, Triggerfish, Wrasses, and Eels.

Rarely Compatible

Avoid aggressive predators such as Sharks, Rays, and Groupers. Slow movers such as Pipefish and Seahorses should be kept separately.

Feeding your Sunset Anthias

The Sunset Anthias is carnivorous. it will consume a variety of meaty foods. Suitable products include frozen mysis shrimp, enhanced frozen brine shrimp, amphipods and rotifers. Feeding should take place 2-3 times per day