Pacific Creole Anthias

The Pacific Creole Anthias (Cephalopholis colonus) is recognizable by reddish to brown adults with pale markings near the tail base, and brighter yellow juveniles. Its deep, forked tail suits sustained swimming above the reef. Older references may list it as Paranthias colonus.

Tropical eastern Pacific is its native range. In the wild, it is associated with rocky reefs and adjacent open water. It takes small animal prey from the water column, moving into the current to intercept food and returning to cover when disturbed.

This large creolefish needs a mature marine display with room for sustained swimming and tankmates that are too large to swallow. Use a long, wide display with open midwater routes. Choose tankmates too large to swallow and separate the feeding areas.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons
Adult Size: Up to 14.0 inches (35.6 cm)
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Diet: Planktivore
Reef Safe: With Caution
Region: Tropical eastern Pacific
Scientific Name: Cephalopholis colonus

Tank Requirements

Provide at least 250 gallons for long-term adult housing. Plan for up to 14.0 inches (35.6 cm). Choose a long, wide display with enough turning space for a full-grown fish at both ends. Allow additional space for groups or for other fish that feed in the same area.

Keep the center and upper part of the aquarium open, with ample width for an adult to turn around. Use stable rock at the perimeter to give fish sheltered areas without breaking up the main swimming route.

Distribute oxygenated flow along the length of the display and protect pump intakes. Use heavy-duty filtration and allow access around rock bases to remove food and waste.

Secure the cover and the rockwork. Use a fitted lid with gaps around plumbing and cables closed. Leave enough clearance for routine maintenance, and anchor heavy structures so they remain stable if substrate shifts. Leave clear paths between feeding areas and shelter, with more than one way around large pieces of rock.

Use an established biological filter, good surface agitation, and circulation that reaches behind the rocks. Arrange the display so you can siphon uneaten food from under ledges and service mechanical filtration easily. Distribute flow across the tank so one narrow jet does not become the only place food moves.

Think about the length of the open route after the adult has turned at each end. Keep plumbing and large décor out of the primary swimming corridor and use visual cover around its edges. In a multi-fish system, make sure the creolefish can be temporarily separated without blocking every tankmate’s access to cover.

Diet and Feeding

The Pacific Creole Anthias is a planktivore. In the aquarium, the main foods should be marine animal preparations that move through the water at a size the fish can readily take. Established adults can take larger pieces, while newly settled fish often respond to smaller foods moving in the current.

Offer a rotation of suitable foods.

• Mysis and marine krill
• Chopped shrimp and squid
• Frozen plankton blends
• Complete marine pellets in suitable sizes

Start with two to three small meals during the light period. Adjust the portion size to the amount swallowed, body condition, and the system’s ability to export waste. Offer food at several points if fast tankmates monopolize the first portion.

Confirm feeding at each introduction. Use a long, wide display with open midwater routes. Choose tankmates too large to swallow and separate the feeding areas. Newly arrived fish may take live or frozen food before accepting dry preparations. Keep portions small and offer a complete marine food as part of the rotation once the fish is eating reliably.

Watch for a pinched belly, repeated spitting, or a fish that misses meals when tankmates approach. Change food size or delivery position early, and make sure each fish can reach food at its preferred depth. Remove leftovers that settle in sheltered areas before the next feeding.

Temperament and Tankmates

The Pacific Creole Anthias is a large, active creolefish. It can dominate food offered into open water and may swallow smaller fish. Choose robust companions sized for an adult, and keep room around their main routes.

Stock based on adult mouth size and swimming room. Larger, sturdy marine fish can be considered in a roomy display where feeding zones and retreats are separated.

Signs of incompatibility include a fish that repeatedly misses meals, stays in one corner, shows damaged fins, or is chased from shelter. Use rockwork to break up sight lines and provide a second feeding location beyond the dominant fish’s range. Keep a divider or alternate space available if the problem persists.

An adult is a large creolefish. Its former name is Paranthias colonus.

Reef Compatibility

The Pacific Creole Anthias is Reef Safe Caution. An adult can take small fish and prey-sized crustaceans. Select reef tankmates with adult size and mouth size in mind.

Plan the display around those prey risks and monitor food reaching other reef inhabitants. Use filtration and regular maintenance to control nutrients from frequent feedings.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–78°F
Specific Gravity: 1.024–1.026
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Use a fully cycled system with undetectable ammonia and nitrite. Maintain steady salinity through top-off and match new saltwater to the aquarium during water changes. Check temperature and circulation after maintenance and during warm weather.

Review feeding portions and filter maintenance together. Regular small meals work best when food is distributed where the fish can take it and the system can remove what remains. Changes in breathing, appetite, or how often the fish leaves cover are worth investigating early.

Check dissolved-waste trends over several feeding days, especially after increasing the number of meals. Keep mechanical media clean and inspect low-flow areas where fine food can collect. Maintain a stable day-night schedule and judge changes in activity against the fish’s normal behavior at the same time of day.

Common Considerations

• Adult Housing: Use 250 gallons or more for adult housing. Up to 14.0 inches (35.6 cm).
• Feeding: Offer two to three small meals during the light period as a starting point. An adult is a large creolefish. Its former name is Paranthias colonus.
• Shelter and Flow: Use a long, wide display with open midwater routes. Choose tankmates too large to swallow and separate the feeding areas.
• Tankmate Monitoring: Confirm that each fish can use its shelter and feed without repeated pursuit.
• Reef Compatibility: Choose tankmates with the risk to small prey animals in mind.
• Acclimation: Provide a secure cover, stable water, and access to suitably sized foods while the fish settles.