Sunburst Anthias

Care at a glance

Overview

A shy, retiring fish that spends much of its time near cover and can be slow to come out and eat when first introduced, but it is widely considered the hardiest and most forgiving anthias in the hobby once it settles in, which makes it a realistic option for a smaller reef tank than most anthias would tolerate. It still needs several small feedings a day of mysis, enriched brine shrimp, and other meaty foods. It is peaceful toward tankmates, reef safe with corals and invertebrates, and pairs well with gobies and other calm, cave-oriented fish. Keep only one male per tank.

In the wild

Native to the western Pacific, where it hangs in the shade of outer reef drop-offs, caves, and overhangs at 15–70 m, often swimming upside down along cave ceilings rather than out in open water. In the aquarium it wants a tall rockwork structure with real caves and overhangs to patrol, moderate to low lighting, and good flow, but it does not need the wide-open swimming lanes that shoaling anthias require, since it spends most of its time close to shelter.

Good to know

Still a protogynous hermaphrodite despite its more solitary habits: it is usually found alone, in pairs, or in small loose groups rather than large harems, and the dominant fish of a pair will become male if needed. Its genus name, Serranocirrhitus, combines Serranus (grouper) and Cirrhitus (hawkfish), a nod to its unsettled taxonomic history; it was originally classified as a hawkfish before being reassigned to the grouper and anthias family in 1978.

Did you know

Unlike most anthias, which shoal in open water above the reef, this species is usually seen swimming upside down against the ceilings of caves and overhangs, a habit that also earned it the name hawkfish anthias.

Related species

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• 

  Dispar Anthias

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