Coopers Anthias (Pseudanthias Cooperi) Female

Species Name : Pseudanthias Cooperi

Care Level : Moderate

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Orange, Pink, Red, White

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 : 4"

Origin : Indo-Pacific

Family : Serranidae

Minimum Tank Size : 70 gallons

The Coopers Anthias (Pseudanthias Сooperi) is also known as the Red bar Anthias, Cooper’s Fairy Basslet, the Red-bar Fairy Basslet, Red Basslet, and the Silverstreak Goldie. Anthias are active, colorful, reef safe, and generally quite peaceful fish. 

The Pseudanthias Сooperi has a fairly typical Anthias shape. Their peachy colored body may shimmer gold on the flank, and their chin is bright white. Some specimen will have hints of orange or purple. Long trailing edges develop on mature fish's tails, which is intense cherry red with shimmers of blue edging in the right light. Males have a blood red blotch on their side, like a bleeding heart, and when displaying may exhibit a contrasting bright whitish to yellow streak along their back. Males have a light pink color body with vertical red bar in the mid-section of the body. Females display more orange with a silvery belly and red tail. Males and females both sport a light blue edging around most of their fins. They can grow to a length of approximately 4”.

Pseudanthias Сooperi generally stay in the middle levels of the tank, but also require plenty of caves, ledges, and other hiding places. Although a 70-gallon tank will suffice for one fish, if keeping a group of one male and several females, a 125-gallon tank or larger tank is needed. Antias tend to jump out of the tank when they are scared or agitated, so a secure lid is recommended.

Tankmates should be peaceful or at least not overly aggressive, and all should be last to enter the aquarium. It is recommended to keep them in a harem; one dominant male with 2-3 females. They pose little to no danger to any other aquarium inhabitant, other than small competing zooplanktivores, such as dart fish and flasher wrasses, which they may chase into hiding.

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. Because of their activity level they have a very high metabolic rate, and should be fed a minimum of three times daily. An attached refugium cultivating copepods and amphipods provides a steady supply of nutritious live food sure to keep this active planktivore content.

Size: Small: 3/4" to 1-1/4", Medium: 1-1/4" to 2"