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
Give a group at least 340 litres with open swimming water, rock retreats and good flow at 24 to 27 C. It is reef safe with corals but may hunt very small ornamental shrimp. Feed a mix of quality flake, pellets and frozen foods three to four times a day. Being one of the hardier anthias, it is a reasonable starting point for keepers new to the group.
In the wild
The huchtii anthias, or red-cheeked anthias, shoals over Pacific reef slopes catching plankton. Males are greenish with an orange stripe behind the eye and electric blue fin edges. It is one of the hardier and more forgiving anthias for aquariums. Groups form the usual single-male harem.
Good to know
Pseudanthias huchtii reaches about 12 cm, with females roughly half the size of males. It is considered one of the more robust anthias in the trade. Like its relatives it changes from female to male as the dominant fish.
Did you know
Its reputation as the toughest common anthias makes it the usual recommendation for a first try at the group.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
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.
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Ring cowrie
Monetaria annulus
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sunburst anthias
Serranocirrhitus latus
Saltwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Klein's butterflyfish
Chaetodon kleinii
Saltwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fighting conch
Strombus alatus
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blackline fang blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°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.
How big does a Huchtii anthias get?
An adult Huchtii anthias reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
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)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Lyretail anthias
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
5.1 in (13 cm) · 79 gal (300 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)