Red Fairy Anthias

The Red Fairy Anthias is one of the Anthias groups that is moderately easy to keep. Once thought to be the same fish as the Striped Anthias, this was resolved by territorial identification with the Striped Anthias being endemic to the Red Sea, while the Red Fairy Anthias is found in the Red Sea, Maldives and along the Great Barrier Reef. The Red Fairy Anthias is also referred to as the Tricolor Anthias, Red Fairy Basslet, Silver Streak, or Kashiwae Anthias. A well developed lateral red bar and a red caudal fin differentiate the male from a female which only has red tips on the caudal fin and a pinkish-orange body color.

This is one of the few Anthias that can be kept with other varieties, e.g.; the Lyretail, Squarespot, and Purple Queen. Use caution when introducing the Red Fairy Anthias to a tank. If there is aggressive or deadly behavior, the fish should be separated. It is best kept in a 125 gallon tank for a group. The Red Fairy Anthias group needs a large amount of room in which to swim.

Anthias species all share the trait of being hermaphroditic.

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.