Anthias

Anthias are a large family of saltwater fish made up of over 200 different varieties. They are characterized by their vibrant coloring and shoaling behavior and are regarded as one of the most beautiful and one of the most photographed species of fish in the world. Athias come in shades of red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green and yellow. Most peaceful species are quite delicate and require the care of an experienced aquarist

Since it is a zooplankton feeder, Anthias need to be presented with a variety of meaty foods such as enriched brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, finely chopped seafood, and any of the frozen diets designed specifically for plankton feeders. It needs to be fed small amounts many times a day.

Anthias are generally extremely peaceful towards other species of fish and extremely aggressive towards their own kind. It is very important to research specific species of anthias before attempting to raise them because the more timid species can sometimes become stressed out by more active tank mates. In fact, it is not unheard of for these fish to die of stress caused by the swimming movements of non-aggressive but active tank mates. Although anthias are known to swim in large shoals in the wild, it is hard to replicate this behavior in the home aquarium. This is because of their extremely complex social hierarchy systems. In fact, there are reports of male anthias dying of stress and over-exertion from chasing subordinate members of a harem.