Huchtii anthias
Pseudanthias huchtii
Also known as Red-cheeked Anthias, Green Anthias, Huchti Anthias, Red-cheeked Fairy Basslet
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 90 gal
- 340 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Serranidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific from Indonesia and the Philippines to Melanesia, on outer reef slopes and drop-offs.
Overview
The Huchtii anthias is a mostly peaceful, group-living anthias for a reef tank. It takes a little experience to keep well.
Did you know
The Huchtii anthias has a reputation as the toughest common anthias. That makes it the usual recommendation for a first try at the group.
Caring for the Huchtii anthias
Give a group of Huchtii anthias at least 90 gal (340 L), with open swimming water, rock retreats and good flow. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed a mix of quality flake, pellets and frozen foods three to four times a day.
A group forms the usual harem, with a single male. The Huchtii anthias is mostly peaceful and reef safe with corals, but it may hunt very small ornamental shrimp.
Males are greenish, with an orange stripe behind the eye and electric blue fin edges. Females are roughly half the size of males. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
Pseudanthias huchtii, also called the red-cheeked anthias, belongs to the family Serranidae. Like its relatives, it changes from female to male when it becomes the dominant fish.
In the wild
The Huchtii anthias lives in the western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines to Melanesia. It shoals over outer reef slopes and drop-offs, catching plankton.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Huchtii anthias is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Swallowtail angelfish
Genicanthus melanospilos
Saltwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Coral beauty angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Saltwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Yellow watchman goby
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellowtail tamarin wrasse
Anampses meleagrides
Saltwater8.7 in (22 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Huchtii anthias need?
A Huchtii anthias needs at least 90 gal (340 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Huchtii anthias need?
A Huchtii anthias is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Huchtii anthias eat?
A Huchtii anthias eats a mix of quality flake, pellets and frozen foods. Feed it three to four times a day.
How big does a Huchtii anthias get?
An adult Huchtii anthias reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How can you tell a male Huchtii anthias from a female?
Males are greenish, with an orange stripe behind the eye and electric blue edges on the fins. Females grow to only about half the size of males.
Related species
5.1 in (13 cm)125 gal (475 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bicolor anthias
Pseudanthias bicolor
5.1 in (13 cm) · 125 gal (475 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)129 gal (490 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Lyretail anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
5.1 in (13 cm) · 129 gal (490 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)75 gal (285 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Evansi anthias
Pseudanthias evansi
4.7 in (12 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)75 gal (285 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Purple queen anthias
Pseudanthias tuka
4.7 in (12 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Square anthias
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
7.9 in (20 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)
3.7 in (9.5 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Dispar anthias
Pseudanthias dispar
3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)