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    Anthias

    Lyretail anthias

    Pseudanthias squamipinnis

    Also sold as Sea goldie, Scalefin anthias

    Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), photographed in the sea or an aquarium
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Care level
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    12.7 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    492 litres
    Temperament
    Semi-aggressive
    With corals
    Reef safe
    Captive-bred
    Wild-caught (captive-bred rare)
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
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    How do you care for the lyretail anthias?

    Semi-aggressive; males fight.

    Feeding

    Carnivore (zooplankton).

    Needs feeding several times a day; thin fish rarely recover.

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 492 litres of water (the care sheet says 130 US gallons).

    Strong flow, open water, frequent feeding or auto-feeder.

    Corals and invertebrates

    None.

    Which tankmates suit the lyretail anthias?

    One male with several females; single fish in small tanks to reduce aggression.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add after the first peaceful fish.

    More than one lyretail anthias

    One male with several females, added together. Two males fight.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Usually fine together (59)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    No known problems with the corals and anemones in this guide.

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Poor copper tolerance reported for anthias (retailer guide). typical, check

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Wild-caught.

    Where sources disagree

    Where sources disagree
    TopicWhat sources sayOur reading
    Minimum tank
    • 130 US gallons on one retailer page.
    • 125 US gallons elsewhere on the same site.
    		The bigger point is one male per group and feeding several times a day.

    Other minimum tank sizes we found:

    • Same page overview says 125 gal; another LiveAquaria listing 125 gal. typical, check

    What does it cost in the UK?

    £28 single female; £90 harem. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length, IUCN.
    3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.
    4. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: harem price.

    Last checked . How we check

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    Bartlett's anthias

    Pseudanthias bartlettorum

    Care
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    9 cm
    Tank from
    265 litres
    Temperament
    Mostly peaceful
    Corals
    Reef safe

    Photo Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0