Pictilis Anthias: Male

Pseudanthias pictilis. Also referred to as the Painted Goldie, the Pictilis Anthias is pinkish-blue, with a large blue oval on the caudal fin, and bright orange-red coloration on the rear 1/3 of the body. One of the larger Anthias species, Pictilis do well with only a single male in a tank with a small group of females of the same species. Although a 125 gallon tank will suffice for one fish, if keeping a group, you may need up to a 180 gallon tank or even larger for best success. Pictilis Anthias prefer a tank with multiple hiding places and caves, and initially prefers lower lighting conditions as they are found in moderately deep water. 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.