Mirror Basslet

About

The Mirror Basslet (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) is one of the bigger members of the anthias group, and that size comes with an attitude to match. Males are particularly territorial and can make life difficult for tankmates, so this isn't a fish you can just drop into a community reef without thinking it through. In the wild, it ranges across a broad stretch of the Pacific. From Indonesia east to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, and dips into the eastern Indian Ocean around Christmas Island and the Rowley Shoals. Out on the reef, adults gather in loose groups just above the edges of current-swept drop-offs, while juveniles behave quite differently, staying close to shelter and keeping largely to themselves. One thing worth knowing before you go chasing one down: this species doesn't show up in the trade very often, so sourcing a specimen can take some patience. Once you do have one, keep the lighting on the dimmer side. Bright conditions tend to wash out the coloration and push the fish into hiding. Despite the territorial streak, it's listed as a beginner-manageable species, provided the tank is roomy enough and tankmates are chosen with the fish's assertive personality in mind.