Tricolor Anthias - Male

The Tricolor Anthias (Pseudanthias rubrizonatus) is recognizable by pink to orange coloration and a conspicuous red vertical body band. Mature males show the red body band especially clearly, with stronger color across the head and fins.

Indo-West Pacific, from the Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands is its native range. In the wild, it is associated with isolated coral heads and rubble patches on coastal and offshore reefs. It takes small animal prey from the water column, moving into the current to intercept food and returning to cover when disturbed.

A mature reef or fish-only aquarium with both shelter and open water supports its active feeding behavior. Set up enough room for the adult and for tankmates to share the feeding area. Build around scattered shelters with open water in front of each. Watch for males driving smaller fish away from isolated feeding patches.

Quick Care Guide

Care Level: Moderate
Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons
Adult Size: Up to 4.7 inches (12 cm)
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Diet: Planktivore
Reef Safe: Yes
Region: Indo-West Pacific, from the Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands
Scientific Name: Pseudanthias rubrizonatus

Tank Requirements

Provide at least 125 gallons for long-term adult housing. Plan for up to 4.7 inches (12 cm). Choose a footprint that leaves swimming or feeding space after the rockwork is in place. Allow additional space for groups or for other fish that feed in the same area.

Use spaced rock structures and rubble around the bases, with distinct hiding places and a clear route between them. Leave open areas around the rocks where food can circulate.

Provide broad circulation across the reef face with quieter zones near the bottom. Secure the rockwork and leave access to remove debris from around the rubble.

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.

Keep several rubble pockets separated by open sand or clear water so the fish can choose among feeding and resting sites. Leave enough distance between the pockets that a dominant fish cannot easily defend all of them. Set loose rubble where it can be siphoned around during routine maintenance.

Diet and Feeding

The Tricolor 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. Release small portions upstream of the fish so they disperse across the feeding lane.

Offer a rotation of suitable foods.

• Copepods or small frozen zooplankton
• Enriched brine shrimp
• Appropriately sized mysis
• Fine marine fish eggs or plankton blends
• Complete marine micro pellets once accepted

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. Build around scattered shelters with open water in front of each. Watch for males driving smaller fish away from isolated feeding patches. 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 Tricolor Anthias is semi-aggressive, particularly when a dominant fish defends space or intercepts food. Observe interactions in the open feeding lane as well as around the rocks.

A single fish or a carefully managed group can work. In larger groups, provide several females per established male when appropriate and avoid housing rival mature males together in limited space.

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.

The red belt is useful for distinguishing this species from the Lyretail Anthias.

Reef Compatibility

The Tricolor Anthias is Reef Safe with corals and typical reef invertebrates. It feeds on small animal prey in the water column. Keep an open feeding lane above the reef as colonies grow.

Frequent feeding can add nutrients to a reef system. Deliver measured amounts into the current, remove scraps that settle around rock bases, and check nitrate and phosphate trends as the fish and corals grow.

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 125 gallons or more for adult housing. Up to 4.7 inches (12 cm).
• Feeding: Offer two to three small meals during the light period as a starting point. The red belt is useful for distinguishing this species from the Lyretail Anthias.
• Shelter and Flow: Build around scattered shelters with open water in front of each. Watch for males driving smaller fish away from isolated feeding patches.
• Tankmate Monitoring: Confirm that each fish can use its shelter and feed without repeated pursuit.
• Reef Compatibility: Compatible with typical reef livestock. Control the nutrients added by frequent feeding.
• Acclimation: Provide a secure cover, stable water, and access to suitably sized foods while the fish settles.