Also Known As: Scalefin Anthias, Sea Goldie

Compatibility and Behavior
The Female Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) is our favorite schooling Anthias and is truly one of the great open-water showpieces of the reef. A warm golden-orange body carries delicate yellow fin trim, a graceful lyre-shaped tail, and striking blue eyes that catch the light beautifully, and a group of them filling the upper water column with synchronized, constant motion is genuinely a sight. There's some fascinating biology behind that grouping, too: Lyretails are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning every fish starts life as a female, and the largest, most dominant female in a group will transition into a male if one isn't already present. That drives the key stocking rule. They're generally peaceful with other species and reef safe, leaving corals and inverts alone to pick plankton from the current, but two males should never be kept together, as it leads to relentless aggression. They're also highly social, so a solitary female isn't ideal long term. Keeping several females together, ideally as a harem with a single dominant male, cuts stress considerably and brings out the confident, active schooling this species is prized for.

Aquarium Requirements
Lyretails want a tank that echoes the current-swept reef slopes they come from, so plan on strong, consistent flow and plenty of open swimming space. A proper group of five or more (one male with four or more females) is best suited to a tank of at least 150 gallons with a long, horizontal footprint, while smaller all-female groups can work in more modest setups. Arrange live rock with overhangs and swim-throughs rather than dense walls, giving this active schooler room to move while still offering shelter when startled. One thing worth knowing: in many cases Anthias will only eat food while it's drifting in the water column and lose interest the moment it falls to the tank floor, which makes how you feed as important as what you feed. Combined with their fast metabolism, that means frequent small feedings, ideally three to five times a day, are essential to keep the group healthy and vibrant. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen is strongly recommended, as they're prone to jumping.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 2–3.5"
Diet: Carnivore; zooplankton, copepods, and amphipods, supplemented with frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and quality marine flake or pellet foods fed 3–5 times daily
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons for a single Anthias, 150 gallons for a full group of Anthias, with smaller harems OK for more modest setups
Special Considerations: A protogynous hermaphrodite that changes from female to male, so only one male per group, as two males will fight; highly social and best kept in a group rather than singly; often eats only from the water column and ignores food once it settles, so it needs frequent small feedings 3–5 times daily; prone to jumping, so a tight-fitting lid is recommended