Anthia ID help?

[Anonymous]

No photo, I know, and I hate it when people do this without a photo.

I was at the LFS today, and they had some anthias in, suprise suprise.

There were three or four specimens of a small anthias that I didn't recognize, but I have been looking for a small group and these littles ones were vigorous and active with their tank mates, they looked to be in good condition, but I have no idea what they were. The owner never writes the fish names on his tanks, and of course he was away so I couldn't even ask him. I have looked in my "Marine Fishes" book, the Marine Center website, Liveaquaria website and the Makin' Waves website and I can't find a picture of it. I am wondering if maybe they were all females??

This anthias was small, almost uniformly pale pink with dark red tips to it's tail fins. The color of his body was the same pale pink of a Lori's anthias, Pseudanthias lori, but without any of the barring or markings. The only other color is the deep red on the top and bottom tip of the tail.

Does anyone have any names they can toss out that it might be, so I can maybe try and google a photo? They seemed like nice little fish.

 

[Anonymous]

No photo, I know, and I hate it when people do this without a photo..

Yep, me too. :wink:

Sounds like a female Pseudanthias smithvanizi.

mario

 

[Anonymous]

Juveniles of P. rubrizonatus...

...and of P. hypselosoma look like the fish you're describing.

I have seen this fish, whatever species it is. Very common at stores out here.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think that top one sure looks like it. Cute fish. So do you think if I got a small group of juvies that they develop adult colors as they mature?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think that top one sure looks like it. Cute fish. So do you think if I got a small group of juvies that they develop adult colors as they mature?

Sure, given enough space and fed well. Include mysids and Cyclop-eeze in the diet.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, went to the fish store today and they were still there, and they ate flake food for us with enthusiasm.

Hung (the LFS owner) didn't know what they were, he looked at his invoice sheet and said they were "blue eye" anthias. I thought that a plausible common name as they do indeed have blue eyes. We bought the three he had.

Then I get home and google "blue eye" anthias and see that is a common name for female lyretails, of which he had two in the store as well, so I wonder if he got the names wrong.

Anyway, the above photo you posted Matt looks like just what we have. I will be curious to see how they look in a year.

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently they are on the aggressive side among the anthias. I'm guessing you've googled the adult coloration?

P. rubrizonatus

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently they are on the aggressive side among the anthias. I'm guessing you've googled the adult coloration?

Yes, I did read about adult aggression with those guys. Although I must say that after even more research, it seems like these lil' pink anthias often turn out to be P. hypselosoma, the "stocky" anthias, your other photo. I have become more conviced that they are likely to be that based on a lot of reading and searches. There are a ton of "ID the pink anthias " threads that come up with a search on RC with photos of my fish!
P. hypselosoma sounds like the better outcome, but at this point they are just a gregarious trio of delightfull little fish. I have other tank options if it turns out they need to be separated later.

They are only two inches long, quite young. I really like them and am glad we picked them up.

 

[bleedingthought]

Post pictures of yours when you get the chance. After all, you owe me tank pictures for a long time now, Laura!

 

[Anonymous]

Alrighty, I took a couple of pics. These guys are mega hard to photograph because they are always zipping around doing stuff.

They really did look like the first two photos Matt posted when I got them, but they are becoming a richer pink. The "dominant" one gets a red spot right in the middle of his dorsal fin, you can kinda see it in the bottom photo. I still don't know what they are.

 

[Anonymous]

The "dominant" one gets a red spot right in the middle of his dorsal fin

Almost definitely P. hyselosoma then.

 

[Anonymous]

Almost definitely P. hyselosoma then.

Oh yeah! I don't know why I never noticed the spot of the photos of them before! It is in the exact same spot as ours. Thanks for the help. I can't wait to tell Marcus, he just insists they are P. rubrizonatus. 8)

http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefimage ... ide=14.jpg

 

[Anonymous]

Almost definitely P. hyselosoma then.

Oh yeah! I don't know why I never noticed the spot of the photos of them before! It is in the exact same spot as ours. Thanks for the help. I can't wait to tell Marcus, he just insists they are P. rubrizonatus. 8)

http://www.reefimages.com/cgi-reefimage ... ide=14.jpg

Tell him to post in the sump while you're at it, fercryinoutloud. The inmates are rebelling.