Randall's Anthias (Pseudanthisas Randalli) Male

Care Level : Moderate

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Pink, Red, Yellow

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 3"

Origin : Central Pacific, Marshall Islands 

Family : Serranidae

Minimum Tank Size : 70 gallons

Pseudanthias Randalli, commonly known as Randall's fairy basslet, is a small/medium Pseudanthias species.

The Randall's Anthias has a narrow bright orange body with glowing lavender bands running horizontally. The Randall's Anthias goes through one of the most beautiful color transformation of any anthias species as it changes from male to female. The species’ maximum size is only 3 inches, so a shoal can be housed in a relatively small amount of space. 

An aquarium of at least 70 gallons if kept alone or 120 gallons if kept in a small group with plenty of room to swim but enough places to hide will be required. Provide plenty of shady crevices and overhangs amongst the live rock so that these deeper water fish feel secure. This fish likes to swim near the bottom. Can jump out of the aquarium, therefore some sort of cover may be necessary. 

Adults can be kept with moderately pugnacious tankmates such as pygmy angelfish and medium sized tangs etc, as long as the Randall's Anthias are introduced and established first. However, be sure to avoid any large, aggressive species that would prevent the Randall's Anthias from venturing out to feed. Anthias are Reef Safe and are not normally known to bother corals or invertebrates.

Anthias species all share the trait of being hermaphroditic. If a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often morph to take its place.

Once acclimated to a new aquarium, anthias do best when fed a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, enriched frozen brine shrimp, and over time may eat high-quality flake foods offered in small quantities throughout the day. An attached refugium cultivating copepods and amphipods provides a steady supply of nutritious live food sure to keep this active planktivore content. Due to their fast metabolism, they require feeding in small amounts several times per day (i.e. at least 4 times) if they are to maintain good health.

Size: Small: 1-1/2" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3-1/2"