Stocky Anthias

About

The stocky anthias (Pseudanthias hypselosoma) lives up to its name with a noticeably deeper, more solid build than many of its slender anthias relatives. Coloration runs through soft pinks and oranges, with males typically showing more vivid hues and extended fin rays compared to the plainer females. A pattern common across the genus. Its natural range is impressively broad, stretching from the Maldives east to Samoa, north to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. In the wild it gravitates toward inshore environments, favoring sheltered lagoons and protected bays rather than exposed outer reef slopes, which gives you a clue about the kind of moderate-flow setup it appreciates. Like most anthias, this species is social by nature and does best kept in groups with a single dominant male overseeing several females. Feeding is where many anthias keepers hit a wall. These fish have fast metabolisms and need multiple small feedings throughout the day to stay in condition. Frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and similar meaty foods work well once the fish are settled. The stocky anthias is manageable for an intermediate keeper who can commit to that feeding schedule and has a suitably large system to house a group comfortably.